Our Winter Monster
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4.3 • 3 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Chilling holiday horror about an unhappy couple running from their problems and straight into the maw of a terrifying beast, perfect for fans of Paul Tremblay and Sara Gran
For the last year, Holly and Brian have been out of sync. Neither can forget what happened that one winter evening; neither can forgive what’s happened since. Tonight, Holly and Brian race toward Pinebuck, New York, trying to outrun a blizzard on their way to the ski village getaway they hope will save their relationship. But soon they lose control of the car—and then of themselves.
Now Sheriff Kendra Book is getting calls about a couple in trouble—along with reports of a brutal and mysterious creature rampaging through town, leaving a trail of crushed cars, wrecked buildings, and mangled bodies in the snow.
To Kendra, who lost another couple to the snow just seven weeks ago, the danger feels personal. But not as personal as it feels to Holly and Brian, who are starting to see the past, the present, and themselves in a monstrous new light . . .
Mahoney’s exhilarating story moves like an avalanche, but its desperate characters, claustrophobic setting, and shocking displays of gore will stay with you long after the snow has melted. Our Winter Monster captures the horrifying moments that test if we’re strong enough to weather the worst—and asks who we might survive the storm with.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This shaky horror outing from Mahoney (Ghostlove) follows Holly and Brian, a troubled couple hoping for a fresh start on a winter vacation to the ski resort town of Pinebuck, N.Y. While separated during a blizzard, they each encounter a mysterious snow creature leaving a trail of carnage across the slopes. Meanwhile, local sheriff Kendra Book investigates the recent disappearance of another vacationing couple and races to save Holly and Buck from meeting a similar fate. The nature of the monster and its connection to both couples forms the novel's central mystery as the creature keeps popping up in Holly and Brian's paths. Mahoney also teases out the reason for Holly and Brian's estrangement, though the eventual reveal feels underwhelming. At its best, this is a breezy and pulpy chiller, with plenty of in-the-moment tension to hook readers' interest. Unfortunately, after a propulsive start, the plot is unable to sustain its forward momentum due to an avalanche of crime-writing clichés and underbaked supernatural elements, and the muddled and confusing climax is riddled with implausible twists. There's plenty of blood and guts to keep horror fans happy, but readers hoping for a story with more meat on its bones are advised to look elsewhere.
