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A Mask of Flies
A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons is a crime horror novel which blends It Follows and The Outsider, with a pinch of The Evil Dead, in which a criminal and the cop she’s taken hostage must find their way to safety – pursued by threats both human and supernatural – after a failed bank robbery.
In the grisly aftermath of a botched bank heist, career criminal Anne Heller has no choice but to return to her family’s cabin – a secluded shack in the San Luis Valley, and the site of her mother’s untimely death.
Along for the ride are Jessup, Anne’s badly wounded partner, and Dutch, the police officer she’s taken hostage. As they wait for help, Anne discovers strange relics of her mother and begins to unfold the mystery of her childhood at the cabin.
Anne’s quest to uncover more is interrupted when Jessup goes missing, only to turn up dead. She and Dutch bury her friend, but that night, the dead man comes back, seemingly risen from his grave to knock at the cabin door. Not a dream, not a hallucination, but not exactly Jessup, either. Something else. Something wearing her friend’s face. Something hungry…
The cops aren’t the only ones after Anne, and unraveling the secrets of her mother’s past may be her only hope of getting out alive.
A Mask of Flies is a gritty, heartfelt meditation on death, family, and the ever-changing, monstrous nature of grief.
In the grisly aftermath of a botched bank heist, career criminal Anne Heller has no choice but to return to her family’s cabin – a secluded shack in the San Luis Valley, and the site of her mother’s untimely death.
Along for the ride are Jessup, Anne’s badly wounded partner, and Dutch, the police officer she’s taken hostage. As they wait for help, Anne discovers strange relics of her mother and begins to unfold the mystery of her childhood at the cabin.
Anne’s quest to uncover more is interrupted when Jessup goes missing, only to turn up dead. She and Dutch bury her friend, but that night, the dead man comes back, seemingly risen from his grave to knock at the cabin door. Not a dream, not a hallucination, but not exactly Jessup, either. Something else. Something wearing her friend’s face. Something hungry…
The cops aren’t the only ones after Anne, and unraveling the secrets of her mother’s past may be her only hope of getting out alive.
A Mask of Flies is a gritty, heartfelt meditation on death, family, and the ever-changing, monstrous nature of grief.
448 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 2, 2024
Imagine, for a moment, an S.A. Cosby book joining forces with King’s The Outsider. Got it? Great. Now sprinkle in a little pinch of Dilouie’s The Children of Red Peak and you are ready for A Mask of Flies; full of crime and violence and grit and supernatural terror.
This novel is insanely well thought-out and the prose is that which comes from someone who is clearly a very talented writer. The story is so devilishly creepy, gritty, and grisly; complexly layered with intense, dark scenes and flawed, dynamic characters driving it all forward. My attention waned some throughout as we followed Anne around—the plot started to feel scattered about. I think I would have liked a little more of the supernatural and a little less running around (literally and figuratively). By the last quarter, I had ratcheted my listening speed up to get to the end because I felt myself thinking “get to it already”, which speaks to the length of the book which felt larger than necessary.
When all is said and done, A Mask of Flies is an incredibly imaginative story with wicked good writing but suffers at times from a bloated narrative and trying to take on too much. 3.5 stars.
Excellent narration by Saskia Maarleveld who I felt really fit Anne’s character well and who brought the story to life through proper tone and inflection.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Available 08/06/2024
This novel is insanely well thought-out and the prose is that which comes from someone who is clearly a very talented writer. The story is so devilishly creepy, gritty, and grisly; complexly layered with intense, dark scenes and flawed, dynamic characters driving it all forward. My attention waned some throughout as we followed Anne around—the plot started to feel scattered about. I think I would have liked a little more of the supernatural and a little less running around (literally and figuratively). By the last quarter, I had ratcheted my listening speed up to get to the end because I felt myself thinking “get to it already”, which speaks to the length of the book which felt larger than necessary.
When all is said and done, A Mask of Flies is an incredibly imaginative story with wicked good writing but suffers at times from a bloated narrative and trying to take on too much. 3.5 stars.
Excellent narration by Saskia Maarleveld who I felt really fit Anne’s character well and who brought the story to life through proper tone and inflection.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Available 08/06/2024
June 16, 2024
2.5 stars. Lyons keeps writing the same book. There are things he's getting better at and things he's getting worse at along the way.
When I reviewed his last novel, I said "In the first, a group of friends got themselves in a terrible situation and then you threw supernatural danger on top of it. In this one, a brother and sister get themselves in a terrible situation and then you throw supernatural danger on top of it. Next time I hope he mixes up the formula, it made the first third feel pretty predictable." This time we once again have a group of people who get themselves in a terrible situation and then you throw supernatural danger on top of it. Bright side: he's a lot better at the terrible situation this time! This was a bank robbery gone wrong and the stakes felt legitimate. There wasn't a clear path forward and there was a whole lot of possible ways to go wrong. Big improvement.
Downside is that this book is much longer than it needs to be and feels very bloated. The supernatural stuff is fine, though the cult stuff feels tacked on.
There are also so many times here where the plot makes no sense that eventually you have to stop asking questions. Why put an unconscious cop in your trunk as a human hostage? (Especially when you never actually use him as a hostage or develop a plan to use him as a hostage.) Why meet up with the people who betrayed you and are very pissed at you when you could very easily NOT do that? And once the supernatural stuff kicks into high gear it's confusing why this big evil will never stop and always follow you when actually it did stop and didn't follow you for like 20 years? This is the kind of book where you just have to say "Okay, you are making bad decisions for the sake of plot" and be okay with it. Which I don't really love!
Also personal pet peeve this is a book with a cop as a major character where the book is really determined to convince you that this guy is Not Like The Other Cops. Clearly Lyons knows he's going to have some ACAB folks among his readers and he's really trying to convince you that it's okay, this guy is a good guy. It is not a very successful effort. Also the whole book would have worked just as well if he wasn't a cop! The cop-as-hostage never made sense anyway!
If this book was like a nice 260 pages, I think it would have been a lot better. But the bloat was real and it slowed the book down a lot. Lots of unnecessary ruminating. I finished it more out of sunk cost than any pleasure.
When I reviewed his last novel, I said "In the first, a group of friends got themselves in a terrible situation and then you threw supernatural danger on top of it. In this one, a brother and sister get themselves in a terrible situation and then you throw supernatural danger on top of it. Next time I hope he mixes up the formula, it made the first third feel pretty predictable." This time we once again have a group of people who get themselves in a terrible situation and then you throw supernatural danger on top of it. Bright side: he's a lot better at the terrible situation this time! This was a bank robbery gone wrong and the stakes felt legitimate. There wasn't a clear path forward and there was a whole lot of possible ways to go wrong. Big improvement.
Downside is that this book is much longer than it needs to be and feels very bloated. The supernatural stuff is fine, though the cult stuff feels tacked on.
There are also so many times here where the plot makes no sense that eventually you have to stop asking questions. Why put an unconscious cop in your trunk as a human hostage? (Especially when you never actually use him as a hostage or develop a plan to use him as a hostage.) Why meet up with the people who betrayed you and are very pissed at you when you could very easily NOT do that? And once the supernatural stuff kicks into high gear it's confusing why this big evil will never stop and always follow you when actually it did stop and didn't follow you for like 20 years? This is the kind of book where you just have to say "Okay, you are making bad decisions for the sake of plot" and be okay with it. Which I don't really love!
Also personal pet peeve this is a book with a cop as a major character where the book is really determined to convince you that this guy is Not Like The Other Cops. Clearly Lyons knows he's going to have some ACAB folks among his readers and he's really trying to convince you that it's okay, this guy is a good guy. It is not a very successful effort. Also the whole book would have worked just as well if he wasn't a cop! The cop-as-hostage never made sense anyway!
If this book was like a nice 260 pages, I think it would have been a lot better. But the bloat was real and it slowed the book down a lot. Lots of unnecessary ruminating. I finished it more out of sunk cost than any pleasure.
May 29, 2024
Review in the June 2024 issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe This Book: visceral, Crime caper-Horror Mashup, strong sense of place
Draft Review:
Lyons latest novel presents an experience akin to Pulp Fiction if written by Nick Cutter. Anne is trying to make a clean getaway with a bag full of cash after her latest bank robbery went awry. Escaping with only one of her accomplices, badly injured, and the cop she has taken hostage, Anne heads to the isolated cabin in the eerie San Luis Valley [CO] Valley, the last place she ever stayed with her mother, that fateful night when she was seven and something came out of the forest to chase them to her mother’s death. At first Anne, a sympathetic criminal with a sad history, is just trying to survive, but fairly quickly it becomes clear that there are forces hungry to find Anne, those who need her to do their dark bidding, assisted by an unstoppable creature, grotesquely crawling with flies and mimicking those closest to her. No cost is too steep in this visceral story filled with shootouts, body horror, and cults, and yet, ultimately it is a story defined by love and acceptance.
Verdict: Epic in scope and deeply steeped in its place, Lyon’s Crime Caper-Horror hybrid will appeal to fans of titles like This Wretched Valley by Kiefer, The Devil Takes You Home by Iglesias, and The Children of Red Peak by DiLouie.
Notes:
San Luis Valley in CO. Terrifying place.
Crime-Caper Thriller and Horror a true mashup. Equal parts of both genres. Mostly Anne's POV with some switches to others in her gang of bank robbers. Anne is very sympathetic and clearly the hero of this story.
But it is gritty and violent and visceral and a lot of bad things happen. Lots of descriptions of bullets and what they do the human body. Much blood and body horror. And the flies.... There are in the title for a reason. If you see some black flies while reading this, watch out.
There is also grief and childhood trauma on center stage here as well.
Great prologue that comes into play for the entire story. Epic in scope and really doing a lot-- a full on crime novel about Anne the bank robber getting double crossed, hiding out in her abandoned family cabin (from the prologue) and then introduces her past just under halfway through which involves a horrible, unkillable monster and a cult and her connection to it all.
"The valley was a hungry place." (That lines reminded me of This Wretched Valley which may also be a readalike) The place, and its insatiable hunger with the people who lived there and the monster stalking Anne, is a character. Sets the tone. It is terrifying. All of it.
There is a great cat who helps save Anne at one point, but not in the way you may think reading this review. (balances out other book in this column with lots of dead cats)
Epic in scope like Chuck Wendig. Pulp Fiction meets Little Heaven by Cutter meets The Children of Red Peak by DiLouie
If you like the setting try Blood Mountain by Brenda Tolan-- connected stories about the horrors in that area and has a narrator connecting them-- a sheriff. Check my review out.
Three Words That Describe This Book: visceral, Crime caper-Horror Mashup, strong sense of place
Draft Review:
Lyons latest novel presents an experience akin to Pulp Fiction if written by Nick Cutter. Anne is trying to make a clean getaway with a bag full of cash after her latest bank robbery went awry. Escaping with only one of her accomplices, badly injured, and the cop she has taken hostage, Anne heads to the isolated cabin in the eerie San Luis Valley [CO] Valley, the last place she ever stayed with her mother, that fateful night when she was seven and something came out of the forest to chase them to her mother’s death. At first Anne, a sympathetic criminal with a sad history, is just trying to survive, but fairly quickly it becomes clear that there are forces hungry to find Anne, those who need her to do their dark bidding, assisted by an unstoppable creature, grotesquely crawling with flies and mimicking those closest to her. No cost is too steep in this visceral story filled with shootouts, body horror, and cults, and yet, ultimately it is a story defined by love and acceptance.
Verdict: Epic in scope and deeply steeped in its place, Lyon’s Crime Caper-Horror hybrid will appeal to fans of titles like This Wretched Valley by Kiefer, The Devil Takes You Home by Iglesias, and The Children of Red Peak by DiLouie.
Notes:
San Luis Valley in CO. Terrifying place.
Crime-Caper Thriller and Horror a true mashup. Equal parts of both genres. Mostly Anne's POV with some switches to others in her gang of bank robbers. Anne is very sympathetic and clearly the hero of this story.
But it is gritty and violent and visceral and a lot of bad things happen. Lots of descriptions of bullets and what they do the human body. Much blood and body horror. And the flies.... There are in the title for a reason. If you see some black flies while reading this, watch out.
There is also grief and childhood trauma on center stage here as well.
Great prologue that comes into play for the entire story. Epic in scope and really doing a lot-- a full on crime novel about Anne the bank robber getting double crossed, hiding out in her abandoned family cabin (from the prologue) and then introduces her past just under halfway through which involves a horrible, unkillable monster and a cult and her connection to it all.
"The valley was a hungry place." (That lines reminded me of This Wretched Valley which may also be a readalike) The place, and its insatiable hunger with the people who lived there and the monster stalking Anne, is a character. Sets the tone. It is terrifying. All of it.
There is a great cat who helps save Anne at one point, but not in the way you may think reading this review. (balances out other book in this column with lots of dead cats)
Epic in scope like Chuck Wendig. Pulp Fiction meets Little Heaven by Cutter meets The Children of Red Peak by DiLouie
If you like the setting try Blood Mountain by Brenda Tolan-- connected stories about the horrors in that area and has a narrator connecting them-- a sheriff. Check my review out.
May 25, 2024
A bank robbery gone sideways, a friend who's hanging on for his life, and a kidnapped cop turns Anne's world upside down. On the run and knowing they've been betrayed from the inside, she goes on the run to a cabin. The same cabin where her mother died when she was six.
Despite being wanted and despite her betrayers chasing her down looking for the money, something much more horrific awaits her. Something supernatural, hungry, and something that smells her blood anywhere she goes.
This is an awesome high octane, action filled, and bloody novel. The author mixes crime with horror and the narrative leaves you breathless. There are twists, turns, and even more terrors around every corner as the body count rises and the body parts fly.
Anne, despite being an almost life long criminal, is a sympathetic and deep character. You can't help but to feel her pain as events from the past which she can't remember come full force into the present, further complicating an already harrowing situation.
I was completely into the narrative and read it in two sittings because I had to know what was really going on. This is a novel I highly recommend.
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Despite being wanted and despite her betrayers chasing her down looking for the money, something much more horrific awaits her. Something supernatural, hungry, and something that smells her blood anywhere she goes.
This is an awesome high octane, action filled, and bloody novel. The author mixes crime with horror and the narrative leaves you breathless. There are twists, turns, and even more terrors around every corner as the body count rises and the body parts fly.
Anne, despite being an almost life long criminal, is a sympathetic and deep character. You can't help but to feel her pain as events from the past which she can't remember come full force into the present, further complicating an already harrowing situation.
I was completely into the narrative and read it in two sittings because I had to know what was really going on. This is a novel I highly recommend.
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
January 25, 2024
Another Matt Lyons banger: brutal, high-octane crime-horror/horror noir about a career criminal, a cosmic horror death cult, a shapeshifter, and a really great tabby cat.
July 7, 2024
This book has pretty much everything I love: OTT gore, creepy supernatural beings, crime and badass female leads! Oh, and I can’t forget the cute cat! The book immediately jumps into the action with the protagonist Annie as a young girl being woken up in the middle of the night by her frantic mother - they need to escape their secluded cabin immediately. As they are leaving, Annie sees what looks like a shadow figure with long black hair following them…
I feel like this book would make such a great movie because I could literally see myself watching this on the big screen as I was reading through it. It contained so many thrilling elements and the plot was well thought out. Not only does it have supernatural horror, it’s also about members of a gang and has exciting shootout scenes. If you love gore, this is definitely a book I would recommend as blood isn’t shed only by guns, but also by the hands of the supernatural shapeshifter, an entity that haunts Annie and wears people’s faces as a masks.
Thank you to netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! ✨
I feel like this book would make such a great movie because I could literally see myself watching this on the big screen as I was reading through it. It contained so many thrilling elements and the plot was well thought out. Not only does it have supernatural horror, it’s also about members of a gang and has exciting shootout scenes. If you love gore, this is definitely a book I would recommend as blood isn’t shed only by guns, but also by the hands of the supernatural shapeshifter, an entity that haunts Annie and wears people’s faces as a masks.
Thank you to netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! ✨
July 23, 2024
3.5 rounded up - thank you Tor Nightfire for a physical ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review
This book starts off so intense with a deadly getaway scene in the middle of the night. I was hooked, but then things took a turn… I always kick myself for not looking up the synopsis of a book because I’m not an organized crime girl at all and this does follow a group of people who do organized crime. That being said, the way it was written was not overly “mission impossible” vibes so it wasn’t unreadable. Throughout this story, though it’s very high stakes and fast paced we get some incredible one liners that had me laughing out loud. The characters had depth, humor, and I found myself rooting for them. The story had intrigue, dark vibes, and a lot of action. There were a few gorey scenes that I loved and I thought the writing was fantastic. This is one of those books where I was less interested in where the story was going and more interested in the journey getting there.
Video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNucP2Mc/
This book starts off so intense with a deadly getaway scene in the middle of the night. I was hooked, but then things took a turn… I always kick myself for not looking up the synopsis of a book because I’m not an organized crime girl at all and this does follow a group of people who do organized crime. That being said, the way it was written was not overly “mission impossible” vibes so it wasn’t unreadable. Throughout this story, though it’s very high stakes and fast paced we get some incredible one liners that had me laughing out loud. The characters had depth, humor, and I found myself rooting for them. The story had intrigue, dark vibes, and a lot of action. There were a few gorey scenes that I loved and I thought the writing was fantastic. This is one of those books where I was less interested in where the story was going and more interested in the journey getting there.
Video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNucP2Mc/
May 14, 2024
I enjoy crime thrillers that have strong supernatural horror elements and this was a perfect blend of both of those, equally plot and character driven this was reminiscent of Kings The Outsider, the realistic crime drama element adds a touch of realism to the cosmic horror, a visceral read with plenty of graphic violence and body horror, fans of the spooky and eldritch will rejoice in this story that felt like it was straight from a 80s horror movie
August 1, 2024
This was so good! It was engaging right from the start and it just kept getting more wild as it unfolded. Talk about childhood trauma circling back to re-traumatize you. Yikes.
It isn’t often a horror can pull on my heart strings as I usually know what’s coming, and I accept that, but one character had me in tears over what happens.
This was a cult horror that kept me on my toes trying to figure out what was happening. I like the on the run plot lines because it intensifies everything!
It isn’t often a horror can pull on my heart strings as I usually know what’s coming, and I accept that, but one character had me in tears over what happens.
This was a cult horror that kept me on my toes trying to figure out what was happening. I like the on the run plot lines because it intensifies everything!
Want to read
March 6, 2024ARC received! Thank you, Tor Nightfire!!!
All new Matthew Lyons Horror!? I'm definitely ready for some of that. This sounds super intriguing and I am loving the vibes of this cover!
All new Matthew Lyons Horror!? I'm definitely ready for some of that. This sounds super intriguing and I am loving the vibes of this cover!
March 12, 2024
Matthew Lyons' A Mask of Flies is an intense supernatural thriller that walks the line between action-heavy and character-driven. Fans of Stephen King's The Outsider will enjoy the realistic crime drama aspects of the story, along with its authentic dialogue and convincing character connections.
There's a nice balance of thrills and meditative material until the halfway mark, but then the supernatural elements start to seem pretty familiar. An enjoyable read, but less transporting than Lyons' previous books.
A big thank you to Tor Nightfire and Edelweiss+ for the ARC.
There's a nice balance of thrills and meditative material until the halfway mark, but then the supernatural elements start to seem pretty familiar. An enjoyable read, but less transporting than Lyons' previous books.
A big thank you to Tor Nightfire and Edelweiss+ for the ARC.
August 1, 2024
When I first started reading A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons, I was expecting a supernatural element just from the summary alone. However, the book exceeded my expectations in every way possible.
The novel seamlessly weaves together supernatural creatures, action-packed bank robberies, a crazy hidden cult in the woods, and a badass female main character. These elements alone would make for a gripping read, but Lyons goes a step further by incorporating a sapphic love interest that adds depth and emotional resonance to the story.
Each of the 500 pages was worth it. Lyons’ ability to maintain a fast-paced narrative while developing complex characters and an intricate plot is commendable. The supernatural elements are both eerie and fascinating, enhancing the sense of danger and intrigue throughout the book.
The action scenes, particularly the jail scene, are gory and vividly described, making you feel as if you are right in the middle of the chaos. The protagonist is a force to be reckoned with – strong, resourceful, and unapologetically herself. Anne’s journey is compelling, and her relationship adds a touching and unexpected dimension to the story.
A Mask of Flies is an engaging and multifaceted read that masterfully blends supernatural horror with action and heartfelt moments. It’s a must-read for fans of who also enjoyed Fever House and The Troop
The novel seamlessly weaves together supernatural creatures, action-packed bank robberies, a crazy hidden cult in the woods, and a badass female main character. These elements alone would make for a gripping read, but Lyons goes a step further by incorporating a sapphic love interest that adds depth and emotional resonance to the story.
Each of the 500 pages was worth it. Lyons’ ability to maintain a fast-paced narrative while developing complex characters and an intricate plot is commendable. The supernatural elements are both eerie and fascinating, enhancing the sense of danger and intrigue throughout the book.
The action scenes, particularly the jail scene, are gory and vividly described, making you feel as if you are right in the middle of the chaos. The protagonist is a force to be reckoned with – strong, resourceful, and unapologetically herself. Anne’s journey is compelling, and her relationship adds a touching and unexpected dimension to the story.
A Mask of Flies is an engaging and multifaceted read that masterfully blends supernatural horror with action and heartfelt moments. It’s a must-read for fans of who also enjoyed Fever House and The Troop
May 16, 2024
"A Mask of Flies is intense, gripping, creepy, and action packed. This is a story that readers will not want to put down." ~nerdywordyreviews
Anne has grown up with no real discipline or family other than her grandmother, so she has created her own, her heist family. The ones she works with regularly to keep food on the table and money flow coming in. When a bank heist goes wrong, Anne takes a young cop hostage while rescuing her badly injured partner, Jessup. Unsure where to flee, she takes the long road back to her past. A place she remembers very little of, except the fatal night she lost her mother. With no other place to hide, she retreats to the vacant cabin in the woods.
Anne quickly treats Jessup as best as she can and hopes that he regains consciousness. Meanwhile, she handcuffs the cop, Butch, to the bed. A scream awakened her throughout the night, one that had Butch shaking and pale in the bedroom. Anne sees blood along the floor leading to the open door of the cabin and Jessup is gone. Taking Butch with her, Anne finds Jessups' mangled and destroyed body, gruesomely murdered and strung up. Together, they bring him back to the cabin and give him the proper burial. A short while later, there was a knock at the door. Anne is in shock. She isn't hallucinating, but something is standing at her door wearing Jessup's face. But it isn't Jessup. The past comes back to haunt Anne's memories as more situations arise and truths revealed. Will Anne and Butch make it back safely?
Matthew Lyons wrote an excellent crime thriller. The detail and fast flowing action scenes right from the start amazed me. As a reader, I did not know how the story would all play out.
A Mask of Flies intertwined and weaved between the storylines, embedding different ideas into the reader's mind. Very well executed at every corner.
The book is full of high-action scenes, gore, suspense, thrills and creepy turns of events. The scenes played into each other so well and lined up nicely, never slowing the story down. A very engaging read.
The details are descriptive enough to picture the story as it unfolds, and the storyline infuses the realisation that humans are not all good, psychologically speaking.
If you love crime horror/thriller books, something that will make you think and send creepy crawlies under your skin, then this is a highly recommended read for you. It releases August 6, 2024 by TOR Nightfire.
Anne has grown up with no real discipline or family other than her grandmother, so she has created her own, her heist family. The ones she works with regularly to keep food on the table and money flow coming in. When a bank heist goes wrong, Anne takes a young cop hostage while rescuing her badly injured partner, Jessup. Unsure where to flee, she takes the long road back to her past. A place she remembers very little of, except the fatal night she lost her mother. With no other place to hide, she retreats to the vacant cabin in the woods.
Anne quickly treats Jessup as best as she can and hopes that he regains consciousness. Meanwhile, she handcuffs the cop, Butch, to the bed. A scream awakened her throughout the night, one that had Butch shaking and pale in the bedroom. Anne sees blood along the floor leading to the open door of the cabin and Jessup is gone. Taking Butch with her, Anne finds Jessups' mangled and destroyed body, gruesomely murdered and strung up. Together, they bring him back to the cabin and give him the proper burial. A short while later, there was a knock at the door. Anne is in shock. She isn't hallucinating, but something is standing at her door wearing Jessup's face. But it isn't Jessup. The past comes back to haunt Anne's memories as more situations arise and truths revealed. Will Anne and Butch make it back safely?
Matthew Lyons wrote an excellent crime thriller. The detail and fast flowing action scenes right from the start amazed me. As a reader, I did not know how the story would all play out.
A Mask of Flies intertwined and weaved between the storylines, embedding different ideas into the reader's mind. Very well executed at every corner.
The book is full of high-action scenes, gore, suspense, thrills and creepy turns of events. The scenes played into each other so well and lined up nicely, never slowing the story down. A very engaging read.
The details are descriptive enough to picture the story as it unfolds, and the storyline infuses the realisation that humans are not all good, psychologically speaking.
If you love crime horror/thriller books, something that will make you think and send creepy crawlies under your skin, then this is a highly recommended read for you. It releases August 6, 2024 by TOR Nightfire.
June 15, 2024
“Its chest hung in gory tatters, blown apart by the twelve-gauge, its flesh riddled with holes. The fingers on one hand dangled like grisly wind chimes, suspended precariously by stringlets of torn skin beneath broken spurs of bone.”
Thank you so much to Tor Nightfire for the physical arc.
I absolutely loved this book. It was insane in all the best ways, I would say it has some semblance of a Stephen King novel in the fact that it is epic in scope—nearly 500 pages, though it reminded me more of a Chuck Wendig novel because it was incredibly action-packed. The action and horror was almost non-stop, it reads like a blockbuster crime/thriller/horror movie—this book is incredibly cinematic and fast-paced. From heart-stopping chase sequences to terrifying encounters with the supernatural, the tension never lets up. The vivid imagery and fast-paced storytelling create an immersive experience, drawing readers deeper into a world where danger lurks around every corner. Amidst the chaos, gun violence punctuates intense heist sequences, where survival hinges on split-second decisions and nerve-wracking action. I really enjoyed the main character, Anne, she is complicated and unhinged in all the best ways, I found myself rooting for her even as she murdered her way out of situations. I liked the subtleness of her sexuality, and the very slow blossoming sapphic romance. The light romance unfolds organically, offering moments of tenderness and connection amidst the chaos and danger. I wouldn’t necessarily call this book scary, but, the body horror was insane (see above quote) and the descriptions of gun violence is very gruesome and detailed. If grotesque transformations of body horror, the eerie allure of secretive cults, and the chilling presence of a shapeshifting demon that haunts the protagonists' every move interests you then pick this up immediately when it’s out in August!
Thank you so much to Tor Nightfire for the physical arc.
I absolutely loved this book. It was insane in all the best ways, I would say it has some semblance of a Stephen King novel in the fact that it is epic in scope—nearly 500 pages, though it reminded me more of a Chuck Wendig novel because it was incredibly action-packed. The action and horror was almost non-stop, it reads like a blockbuster crime/thriller/horror movie—this book is incredibly cinematic and fast-paced. From heart-stopping chase sequences to terrifying encounters with the supernatural, the tension never lets up. The vivid imagery and fast-paced storytelling create an immersive experience, drawing readers deeper into a world where danger lurks around every corner. Amidst the chaos, gun violence punctuates intense heist sequences, where survival hinges on split-second decisions and nerve-wracking action. I really enjoyed the main character, Anne, she is complicated and unhinged in all the best ways, I found myself rooting for her even as she murdered her way out of situations. I liked the subtleness of her sexuality, and the very slow blossoming sapphic romance. The light romance unfolds organically, offering moments of tenderness and connection amidst the chaos and danger. I wouldn’t necessarily call this book scary, but, the body horror was insane (see above quote) and the descriptions of gun violence is very gruesome and detailed. If grotesque transformations of body horror, the eerie allure of secretive cults, and the chilling presence of a shapeshifting demon that haunts the protagonists' every move interests you then pick this up immediately when it’s out in August!
July 25, 2024
A huge thanks to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the eARC!
Tarantino meets a hint of The Evil Dead meets a lil bit of Midnight Mass. A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons is a novel jam-packed with action, gore, and many sub-genres. Anne Heller is a felon on the run following a botched bank robbery. In tow is a cop taken hostage and a banged up member of the heist squad.
They find refuge in Anne's abandoned family cabin, the home of a gruesome memory for her many years ago. Of course, the past never stays buried, a fact that's particularly true for this cabin in the woods. The evil that is unearthed is an unthinkable monster proving the past has such sharp teeth.
Readers of Keith Rosson's Fever House or Philip Fracassi's A Child Alone with Strangers will find something they love here, this intersection of crime and horror. While AMOF doesn't follow a police procedural plot structure, there are plenty of cops and felons running amok mixed with a supernatural terror carving its bloody path. This is a very, very busy novel that's starts off lightening fast. However, there are some moments of variable pacing as events progress with our MC, Anne, enduring blow after blow after blow.
These intense levels of violence and brutality escalate the stakes for survival tremendously and accelerate the plot into many unpredictable areas.
While writing a novel as busy as this runs the risk of spinning out of control, Anne Heller proves to be our grounding force. Her confrontation of her shadowy past, her grit to fight back, and her will to survive held my attention and investment. AMOF is a long novel (over 400 pages) that details the intricacies of Anne's traumatic past, and proves that it's the kind of book that succeeds through its character work.
Managing to balance a very full slate of action, Matthew Lyons writes a blood-soaked, gritty, frightening venture into criminal enterprises and the will to survive. While the pacing of the book feels a bit variable, it's an entertaining read and solid entry into the crime horror genre.
Tarantino meets a hint of The Evil Dead meets a lil bit of Midnight Mass. A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons is a novel jam-packed with action, gore, and many sub-genres. Anne Heller is a felon on the run following a botched bank robbery. In tow is a cop taken hostage and a banged up member of the heist squad.
They find refuge in Anne's abandoned family cabin, the home of a gruesome memory for her many years ago. Of course, the past never stays buried, a fact that's particularly true for this cabin in the woods. The evil that is unearthed is an unthinkable monster proving the past has such sharp teeth.
Readers of Keith Rosson's Fever House or Philip Fracassi's A Child Alone with Strangers will find something they love here, this intersection of crime and horror. While AMOF doesn't follow a police procedural plot structure, there are plenty of cops and felons running amok mixed with a supernatural terror carving its bloody path. This is a very, very busy novel that's starts off lightening fast. However, there are some moments of variable pacing as events progress with our MC, Anne, enduring blow after blow after blow.
These intense levels of violence and brutality escalate the stakes for survival tremendously and accelerate the plot into many unpredictable areas.
While writing a novel as busy as this runs the risk of spinning out of control, Anne Heller proves to be our grounding force. Her confrontation of her shadowy past, her grit to fight back, and her will to survive held my attention and investment. AMOF is a long novel (over 400 pages) that details the intricacies of Anne's traumatic past, and proves that it's the kind of book that succeeds through its character work.
Managing to balance a very full slate of action, Matthew Lyons writes a blood-soaked, gritty, frightening venture into criminal enterprises and the will to survive. While the pacing of the book feels a bit variable, it's an entertaining read and solid entry into the crime horror genre.
July 27, 2024
This book reminds me of what horror is. The anticipation the gore the good the bad and the evil. After a botched robbery Anne kidnaps a cop and takes sanctuary in an old cabin her mom used to own that holds a lot of bad memories and something else. This was well written and I enjoyed it. I’m not huge fan of the religious zealots aspect but that aside it was a solid book that I will definitely recommend. 3.75 ⭐️
June 24, 2024
ARC by NetGalley and the publisher.
Anne Heller is on the run. Everything about the day has gone anything but according to plan. Her latest bank heist has left her partner badly wounded and not only that she now has a police officer as a hostage. With options running out she can only think of one place to go, her families secluded cabin. The cabin isn’t your typical warm and cozy place, no this cabin is filled with secrets and bad memories. Memories like the untimely death of her mother. The longer Anne spends in the old shack the more unnerving things become as strange relics are unearthed. For now the cops aren’t the only ones chasing her so to are the secrets and monsters of her past.
A Mask of Flies was a perfect book for the start of spooky summer reading. The blend of action with the bank heist and the hauntingly eerie location of the cabin had me fully invested in this supernatural story. This book really needs to be read on a summer night with the windows open. The pacing consistently maintained its fast pace which had me jumping as I turned page after page. The author does a wonderful job of making you feel like you are in the characters shoes which really addd to the scare factor for me. Speaking of the characters Anne as a MC was very compelling and resourceful. While she definitely would be someone I consider morally grey she still manages to be a very relatable individual with layers, she may do bad things but that doesn’t mean that she likes doing them. Her motivations are based in survival as she has lived her whole life in a constant fight or flight state which started at a very young age. Fair warning this book does have some gore but it also does have some heartfelt moments as well.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and recommend it if you are looking for a read that has action, hidden religious cults, a badass FMC, supernatural monsters, and horror all while still having the elements of a crime thriller.
A Mask of Flies comes out August 6th, 2024.
Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Anne Heller is on the run. Everything about the day has gone anything but according to plan. Her latest bank heist has left her partner badly wounded and not only that she now has a police officer as a hostage. With options running out she can only think of one place to go, her families secluded cabin. The cabin isn’t your typical warm and cozy place, no this cabin is filled with secrets and bad memories. Memories like the untimely death of her mother. The longer Anne spends in the old shack the more unnerving things become as strange relics are unearthed. For now the cops aren’t the only ones chasing her so to are the secrets and monsters of her past.
A Mask of Flies was a perfect book for the start of spooky summer reading. The blend of action with the bank heist and the hauntingly eerie location of the cabin had me fully invested in this supernatural story. This book really needs to be read on a summer night with the windows open. The pacing consistently maintained its fast pace which had me jumping as I turned page after page. The author does a wonderful job of making you feel like you are in the characters shoes which really addd to the scare factor for me. Speaking of the characters Anne as a MC was very compelling and resourceful. While she definitely would be someone I consider morally grey she still manages to be a very relatable individual with layers, she may do bad things but that doesn’t mean that she likes doing them. Her motivations are based in survival as she has lived her whole life in a constant fight or flight state which started at a very young age. Fair warning this book does have some gore but it also does have some heartfelt moments as well.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and recommend it if you are looking for a read that has action, hidden religious cults, a badass FMC, supernatural monsters, and horror all while still having the elements of a crime thriller.
A Mask of Flies comes out August 6th, 2024.
Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 28, 2024
I am so grateful to have received A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons as an ARC via NetGalley.
The book kicks off right in the middle of a bank robbery gone wrong. Anne, who has had a troubled past, gets away with her injured partner and takes a cop hostage. With nowhere left to go, she returns to a place she never thought she'd visit again. A place that holds bad memories and dark secrets: her mother's cabin. Anne was young when she was there last, and her last memory of the place is fleeing in the middle of the night with her mother and getting in a deadly car accident.
But going back was a mistake. Something inhuman begins stalking Anne. And it will do everything in its power to get what it wants.
This book is perfect for anyone who loves the movie The Thing! Also if you're a fan of bank heists and crime fiction this book is right up your alley.
Overall I enjoyed this book. I loved Anne's character.
Even though she didn't make the best life choices, I liked her.
She felt real and fleshed out.
I also really enjoyed the plot. After the cabin I wasn't sure where this book was going to go, so l was definitely surprised by the direction it went. My biggest complaint with this book is it felt too long. By the halfway point the scare of the monster began to lose its effect. I kept expecting it to show up at any given time.
It almost felt like this book was trying to tackle too much at times.
But I will say when the monster first comes into play it was
CREEPY. I would not want to see that thing in a dark alley. I do not know how Anne kept her cool.
This book comes out August 6th and is published by Tor Nightfire. Be sure to check this one out!
The book kicks off right in the middle of a bank robbery gone wrong. Anne, who has had a troubled past, gets away with her injured partner and takes a cop hostage. With nowhere left to go, she returns to a place she never thought she'd visit again. A place that holds bad memories and dark secrets: her mother's cabin. Anne was young when she was there last, and her last memory of the place is fleeing in the middle of the night with her mother and getting in a deadly car accident.
But going back was a mistake. Something inhuman begins stalking Anne. And it will do everything in its power to get what it wants.
This book is perfect for anyone who loves the movie The Thing! Also if you're a fan of bank heists and crime fiction this book is right up your alley.
Overall I enjoyed this book. I loved Anne's character.
Even though she didn't make the best life choices, I liked her.
She felt real and fleshed out.
I also really enjoyed the plot. After the cabin I wasn't sure where this book was going to go, so l was definitely surprised by the direction it went. My biggest complaint with this book is it felt too long. By the halfway point the scare of the monster began to lose its effect. I kept expecting it to show up at any given time.
It almost felt like this book was trying to tackle too much at times.
But I will say when the monster first comes into play it was
CREEPY. I would not want to see that thing in a dark alley. I do not know how Anne kept her cool.
This book comes out August 6th and is published by Tor Nightfire. Be sure to check this one out!
July 17, 2024
At turns brutal and poignant, A Mask of Flies is one of the best horror books I've read this year. It's an exploration of monsters, both human and otherwise, that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.
Anne Heller has never known peace, not since the night of her mother's death when she was 6 years old. Now, she's on the run with a cop as her hostage, after a bank robbery gone very wrong. But the police are not the only ones in pursuit, and danger is lurking around every corner.
There's a little something for every reader in this book. It's an in-depth look at the way grief can shape you, but it never feels like a slog. It's got plenty of guts and it's seriously spooky. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the review copy.
Anne Heller has never known peace, not since the night of her mother's death when she was 6 years old. Now, she's on the run with a cop as her hostage, after a bank robbery gone very wrong. But the police are not the only ones in pursuit, and danger is lurking around every corner.
There's a little something for every reader in this book. It's an in-depth look at the way grief can shape you, but it never feels like a slog. It's got plenty of guts and it's seriously spooky. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the review copy.
June 19, 2024
A Mask of Flies was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024, and wow it did not disappoint! This story blends a ragtag modern day bank robbing group with chaotic inner turmoil that really blows up setting the scene, a well hidden Jim Jones style cult, and an incredible Monster that has some resemblance of The Thing but with flies! 🤢🪰😂
The story is so well crafted, pulling you in and dangling that carrot with such a tense ebb and flow of events and backstory. It also has an adorable love story that is perfect for the lovers of queer horror, but also doesn’t take away from the general plot line.
The moments of terror are exciting and had me physically cringing in horror at times! The action was addictive and the overall story had me flying through the pages.
The story is so well crafted, pulling you in and dangling that carrot with such a tense ebb and flow of events and backstory. It also has an adorable love story that is perfect for the lovers of queer horror, but also doesn’t take away from the general plot line.
The moments of terror are exciting and had me physically cringing in horror at times! The action was addictive and the overall story had me flying through the pages.
June 27, 2024
I don't have any major complaints; the writing is great, the characters are well-developed, even the ones not on page much, and there are a ton of interesting elements. That may be where I started to fall off the caring wagon. By 50% so much has happened and none of it seems to be connected more than just being a plot stepping stone. The Jeesup arc was underwhelming, the cop’s attitude change felt convenient, and Gem just gets thrown in. Also, why are we negotiating with the enemy when they have no clue where you are?
Maybe that's my issue: everything just felt super convenient to move the story forward 🤷🏻♀️
Maybe that's my issue: everything just felt super convenient to move the story forward 🤷🏻♀️
July 12, 2024
A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons
Huge thanks to @tornightfire / Tor Publishing / NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy which is due for release in September
First off, the main character is one badass female - I’m in! You should hold on tight as you are thrown right in from the start, there’s no easing you into this.
It starts off with Anne (or Annie - you will learn) as a child, woken during the night to a scary/horrible sound and her mother frantically getting her out of their cabin to leave, wand bad things happen. Fast forward to present day and Anne is in a bank robbery gone wrong, she returns to her mothers abandoned cabin to seek refuge with her wounded friend and hostage police officer and this is where all hell breaks loose…. In the form of an undeady shapeshifting forefeet type thing.
This was a delightful mix of crime thriller with supernatural horror with a sprinkling of gore and body horror for the effect. Oh and there’s crazy cults. It’s constant, it literally feels like it is non stop with the pace.
This had me feeling vibes of Stephen Kings The Outsider in some ways…. Which I loved.
I will admit, this is a long book and by the time I was nearing the end, I was so used to what was going on that I no longer found it “scary” but saying that, I still really loved it!!
Huge thanks to @tornightfire / Tor Publishing / NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy which is due for release in September
First off, the main character is one badass female - I’m in! You should hold on tight as you are thrown right in from the start, there’s no easing you into this.
It starts off with Anne (or Annie - you will learn) as a child, woken during the night to a scary/horrible sound and her mother frantically getting her out of their cabin to leave, wand bad things happen. Fast forward to present day and Anne is in a bank robbery gone wrong, she returns to her mothers abandoned cabin to seek refuge with her wounded friend and hostage police officer and this is where all hell breaks loose…. In the form of an undeady shapeshifting forefeet type thing.
This was a delightful mix of crime thriller with supernatural horror with a sprinkling of gore and body horror for the effect. Oh and there’s crazy cults. It’s constant, it literally feels like it is non stop with the pace.
This had me feeling vibes of Stephen Kings The Outsider in some ways…. Which I loved.
I will admit, this is a long book and by the time I was nearing the end, I was so used to what was going on that I no longer found it “scary” but saying that, I still really loved it!!
May 29, 2024
This is absolutely the weirdest, grossest, most original, and most compelling narrative of how we love and how we lose and reconnect with people I've read probably ever. Replete with body horror layered over a tender story of reconnecting to the past and learning how to trust and love again, I'm pretty sure this also applies as the most unique genre crossover I've read in a very long time. I devoured this book and it devoured me right back.
July 30, 2024
1000000x cooler than I would have ever guessed from the cover and description on the back. The coolest, creepiest, most action-packed, fastest-paced absolute MASTERPIECE of a novel. Cults, bank robberies, shape shifting monsters, way more injuries than a human should survive, a cat, and lesbians, this book has it all.
May 2, 2024
An absolute fever dream of a novel. Loved every page. Grief is a horror for the living.
July 1, 2024
Thank you so much to Tor Publishing Group | Tor Nightfire | NetGalley for this ARC of A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons. All opinions are my own.
.
This book started off really great for me, but then about 40% in it started feeling convoluted and scattered. The plot was very unique, and there is a fantastic classic car involved (I love old cars) but I just couldn't connect to or care about any of the characters. I felt like this could of been a novella? The story seemed to ramp up, then climax at 40% - but then the author took us back in time to experience other parts of the main protagonist's life, then onto a whole new plotline.
.
The story starts off with a bank robbery gone bad - and our main character Anne takes a cop named Dutch hostage. Somehow along the way Dutch decides that he's going to help Anne instead of go back to being a cop (because now that he's been taken by the bad people, the cops think he's a bad person too). He just felt like he didn't need to be in the story. Or maybe he needed to be developed more? I dunno.
.
Overall I think the story was super unique, it just wasn't executed well. I'd like to read more of Matthew Lyons work to see if maybe this book is a one-off for me or if maybe I just have a hard time with his writing style? I'm curious because I've seen so many 5 star reviews of this book, it just didn't work for me.
.
This book started off really great for me, but then about 40% in it started feeling convoluted and scattered. The plot was very unique, and there is a fantastic classic car involved (I love old cars) but I just couldn't connect to or care about any of the characters. I felt like this could of been a novella? The story seemed to ramp up, then climax at 40% - but then the author took us back in time to experience other parts of the main protagonist's life, then onto a whole new plotline.
.
The story starts off with a bank robbery gone bad - and our main character Anne takes a cop named Dutch hostage. Somehow along the way Dutch decides that he's going to help Anne instead of go back to being a cop (because now that he's been taken by the bad people, the cops think he's a bad person too). He just felt like he didn't need to be in the story. Or maybe he needed to be developed more? I dunno.
.
Overall I think the story was super unique, it just wasn't executed well. I'd like to read more of Matthew Lyons work to see if maybe this book is a one-off for me or if maybe I just have a hard time with his writing style? I'm curious because I've seen so many 5 star reviews of this book, it just didn't work for me.
May 29, 2024
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
This book was EXCELLENT. Really crunchy writing with great exposition that still keeps you dialed in the entire time. The author expertly blended a crime thriller with supernatural horror, and made it extra scary because you'd be tooting along for several chapters following the characters' crazy predicaments following a heist gone wrong, and then BAM out of nowhere there would come the super scary shit and that just made it even more terrifying. I feel like this really puts you in the characters' perspective. This was both plot-driven and character-driven which is a tough balancing act, and Lyons pulled it off beautifully. I also really appreciated that the main character is morally gray, but also completely relatable. She does what she needs to in order to survive, and doesn't take any pleasure in it. I think she's written to be someone we could all see ourselves in were we to have had the life she's had. This also kept me very engaged in the story.
I was SO INTO this book - the summary doesn't do it justice at all. It does get a little gory throughout so know that going in. And it's a little queer, so yay! (Not the focus of the book, and I don't need or want it to be, it's just nice to have that be more and more normalized in books these days where nothing about the plot or story changes, it's just that the MC is into women. We queers do in fact go about our lives living them as any other people do.)
Definitely check this book out if you like horror, action packed crime drama, and women who know their way around weaponry.
This book was EXCELLENT. Really crunchy writing with great exposition that still keeps you dialed in the entire time. The author expertly blended a crime thriller with supernatural horror, and made it extra scary because you'd be tooting along for several chapters following the characters' crazy predicaments following a heist gone wrong, and then BAM out of nowhere there would come the super scary shit and that just made it even more terrifying. I feel like this really puts you in the characters' perspective. This was both plot-driven and character-driven which is a tough balancing act, and Lyons pulled it off beautifully. I also really appreciated that the main character is morally gray, but also completely relatable. She does what she needs to in order to survive, and doesn't take any pleasure in it. I think she's written to be someone we could all see ourselves in were we to have had the life she's had. This also kept me very engaged in the story.
I was SO INTO this book - the summary doesn't do it justice at all. It does get a little gory throughout so know that going in. And it's a little queer, so yay! (Not the focus of the book, and I don't need or want it to be, it's just nice to have that be more and more normalized in books these days where nothing about the plot or story changes, it's just that the MC is into women. We queers do in fact go about our lives living them as any other people do.)
Definitely check this book out if you like horror, action packed crime drama, and women who know their way around weaponry.
July 1, 2024
3.5 rounded down to 3.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for an advanced copy of A Mask of Flies.
When a bank robbery goes wrong, Anne finds herself kidnapping a police officer and escaping to a cabin she lived in briefly as a child, before her mother's tragic demise. What she finds there is even more sinister than the usual situations she finds herself in, and she doesn't know if she will make it out alive.
I initially enjoyed this book. It was very fast-paced throughout, and there were some truly gnarly scenes of graphic body horror that were gross and terrifying. The supernatural elements were a fun touch, as well as the cult. Anne was a strong, morally gray character who I was rooting for and I really enjoyed her character arc. I also really enjoyed how she developed a friendship with Dutch over the course of the story.
However, at around 500 pages this was a bit much to get through. It felt like there was almost too much going on, and after awhile the action scenes felt repetitive. Anne and company are being chased, they get injured, tend their wounds, rinse and repeat. Other than Anne and her friendship with Dutch, most of the characters and their connections to Anne felt lacking. The romantic relationship between Gemma and Anne felt pointless to me. Gemma was cold and I honestly did not feel any type of romance or trust between her and Anne. It felt kind of forced and I just didn't care about them as a couple, or even friends. Maybe if Gemma had more of a backstory to explain her personality better, it could have worked more for me. Same with the cult aspect - I thought it was super interesting, but then everything was more about the action and less about building up that part of the story. Personally, if this was a duology I think the plot and character development could have been executed better. The ending was also kind of predictable and anti-climactic for me.
Overall it was entertaining, with some crazy body horror. Anne was a badass and honestly, I feel like this would make a fun action/horror film, based on the amount of violence and supernatural moments.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for an advanced copy of A Mask of Flies.
When a bank robbery goes wrong, Anne finds herself kidnapping a police officer and escaping to a cabin she lived in briefly as a child, before her mother's tragic demise. What she finds there is even more sinister than the usual situations she finds herself in, and she doesn't know if she will make it out alive.
I initially enjoyed this book. It was very fast-paced throughout, and there were some truly gnarly scenes of graphic body horror that were gross and terrifying. The supernatural elements were a fun touch, as well as the cult. Anne was a strong, morally gray character who I was rooting for and I really enjoyed her character arc. I also really enjoyed how she developed a friendship with Dutch over the course of the story.
However, at around 500 pages this was a bit much to get through. It felt like there was almost too much going on, and after awhile the action scenes felt repetitive. Anne and company are being chased, they get injured, tend their wounds, rinse and repeat. Other than Anne and her friendship with Dutch, most of the characters and their connections to Anne felt lacking. The romantic relationship between Gemma and Anne felt pointless to me. Gemma was cold and I honestly did not feel any type of romance or trust between her and Anne. It felt kind of forced and I just didn't care about them as a couple, or even friends. Maybe if Gemma had more of a backstory to explain her personality better, it could have worked more for me. Same with the cult aspect - I thought it was super interesting, but then everything was more about the action and less about building up that part of the story. Personally, if this was a duology I think the plot and character development could have been executed better. The ending was also kind of predictable and anti-climactic for me.
Overall it was entertaining, with some crazy body horror. Anne was a badass and honestly, I feel like this would make a fun action/horror film, based on the amount of violence and supernatural moments.
July 23, 2024
after what should have been a routine bank robbery goes profoundly and irreparably tits up, anne, frantic and desperate with no other viable options, drives herself, the money, her wounded friend, and a hastily-kidnapped cop into the mountains to hole up in the cabin she hasn't set foot in since fleeing in the middle of the night decades ago while being pursued by some kind of Uncanny Thing - surprising to no one, not long into their stay, a fucked up, unholy monstrosity arrives on their doorstep and anne finds herself with no choice but to trust her cop captive, and the two set off together on what, because i am not a wordsmith, i can only describe as an Epic Quest. LISTEN!!!! this FUCKED! i was not expecting this to fuck even half as hard as it fucked. i was sucker punched by the severity of.. fucking. absolutely in the running for favorite book of the year. this was soooooo much. the flawlessly woven threads of supernatural grotesquery and mystery and unrepentant, vicious, balls to the wall violence and grief and courage reminded me of fever house, which, if you have never heard me wax poetic about that masterpiece, is a huge compliment. i was so wholly immersed in this shit. when the book ended i felt like i was suddenly blinking away harsh sunlight and struggling to breath air after spending 450 pages in the depths. the prose, amongst all of the nonstop, anxiety inducing fuckery, was beautiful. the cat lives. i laughed, i wept, i gasped out loud, i was absolutely repulsed by both characters and imagery. i don't know, my dudes. i cannot say enough good things about this book, and i can say only one bad thing: matthew lyons made me give a shit about a cop. i am furious. anyway, i obviously recommend this, holy shit. 5/5.
thanks to fellow bookseller belladonna lestrange for passing her extra arc along to me <3
thanks to fellow bookseller belladonna lestrange for passing her extra arc along to me <3
July 27, 2024
A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons
5/5
ARC via Netgalley
This review can be pretty simple.
BOY was this a good read!
If you don’t want to read on, that’s really all you need to know.
It does not start off slow at all, with a little girl and mom fleeing from a cabin in the middle of the night, only to be attacked by…. Something. Then we move to the girl, all grown up, running from a botched bank robbery, trying not to be killed or captured by the police. If you need to be eased into things, this probably wouldn’t be the story to you.
Bank robberies, revenge, cults, escapes, a very gory creature, flies, family secrets, lost memories, a cat companion, oh and a dash of lustful romance (but really it’s only a dash). Looking for gore? It has it in gooey, dripping, squishing, revolting, fly infested descriptive bucketfuls.
The only downside for me, which was minor overall, was that I felt I needed to suspend my disbelief that a bank robbery could happen in modern day the way it took place. I guess maybe it could? To me the kind of bank robbery that they attempted to pull off seems like something that would happen years ago before modern technology and the saturation of social media. Honestly it didn’t bother me that much because I didn’t realize this was supposed to be set in modern time, however then there was a brief mention of DoorDash. That small sentence caught me off guard and threw me off enough I had to pause to reset the setting of what was happening. Honestly, that was the only other indication I picked up that it was taking place in the “now”, so I decided to pretend that didn’t happen and kept reading. It ended up being a good idea to do so.
There was a moment where I almost felt it could have had an ending and been made into a duology, but having finished it I think that it would have hurt the story more to have gone that route, and likely made the ending weaker in comparison. The ending itself was a clean one and I think was almost perfect for the story, but because I’m how I am, I was expecting it to go a different route. Having said that, I wasn’t disappointed with it at all, and think this is going to be a good read for horror lovers.
5/5
ARC via Netgalley
This review can be pretty simple.
BOY was this a good read!
If you don’t want to read on, that’s really all you need to know.
It does not start off slow at all, with a little girl and mom fleeing from a cabin in the middle of the night, only to be attacked by…. Something. Then we move to the girl, all grown up, running from a botched bank robbery, trying not to be killed or captured by the police. If you need to be eased into things, this probably wouldn’t be the story to you.
Bank robberies, revenge, cults, escapes, a very gory creature, flies, family secrets, lost memories, a cat companion, oh and a dash of lustful romance (but really it’s only a dash). Looking for gore? It has it in gooey, dripping, squishing, revolting, fly infested descriptive bucketfuls.
The only downside for me, which was minor overall, was that I felt I needed to suspend my disbelief that a bank robbery could happen in modern day the way it took place. I guess maybe it could? To me the kind of bank robbery that they attempted to pull off seems like something that would happen years ago before modern technology and the saturation of social media. Honestly it didn’t bother me that much because I didn’t realize this was supposed to be set in modern time, however then there was a brief mention of DoorDash. That small sentence caught me off guard and threw me off enough I had to pause to reset the setting of what was happening. Honestly, that was the only other indication I picked up that it was taking place in the “now”, so I decided to pretend that didn’t happen and kept reading. It ended up being a good idea to do so.
There was a moment where I almost felt it could have had an ending and been made into a duology, but having finished it I think that it would have hurt the story more to have gone that route, and likely made the ending weaker in comparison. The ending itself was a clean one and I think was almost perfect for the story, but because I’m how I am, I was expecting it to go a different route. Having said that, I wasn’t disappointed with it at all, and think this is going to be a good read for horror lovers.
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