What do you think?
Rate this book
The Devil Crept In
Young Jude Brighton has been missing for three days, and while the search for him is in full swing in the small town of Deer Valley, Oregon, the locals are starting to lose hope. They’re well aware that the first forty-eight hours are critical and after that, the odds usually point to a worst-case scenario. And despite Stevie Clark’s youth, he knows that, too; he’s seen the cop shows. He knows what each ticking moment may mean for Jude, his cousin and best friend.
That, and there was that boy, Max Larsen...the one from years ago, found dead after also disappearing under mysterious circumstances. And then there were the animals: pets gone missing out of yards. For years, the residents of Deer Valley have murmured about these unsolved crimes…and that a killer may still be lurking around their quiet town. Now, fear is reborn—and for Stevie, who is determined to find out what really happened to Jude, the awful truth may be too horrifying to imagine.
That, and there was that boy, Max Larsen...the one from years ago, found dead after also disappearing under mysterious circumstances. And then there were the animals: pets gone missing out of yards. For years, the residents of Deer Valley have murmured about these unsolved crimes…and that a killer may still be lurking around their quiet town. Now, fear is reborn—and for Stevie, who is determined to find out what really happened to Jude, the awful truth may be too horrifying to imagine.
374 pages, Paperback
First published February 7, 2017
About the author
Ania Ahlborn
16 books5,896 followersBorn in Ciechanow Poland, Ania has always been drawn to the darker, mysterious, and sometimes morbid sides of life. Her earliest childhood memory is of crawling through a hole in the chain link fence that separated her family home from the large wooded cemetery next door. She’d spend hours among the headstones, breaking up bouquets of silk flowers so that everyone had their equal share.
Author of nine novels, Ania's books have been lauded by the likes of Publisher's Weekly, The New York Daily News, and The New York Times. Some titles have been optioned for film.
Hailing from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ania currently lives in Greenville, South Carolina.
For more from Ania, visit her site, or connect via social media on Facebook and Twitter.
Web: http://www.aniaahlborn.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aniaahlborn
Twitter: @aniaahlborn
Author of nine novels, Ania's books have been lauded by the likes of Publisher's Weekly, The New York Daily News, and The New York Times. Some titles have been optioned for film.
Hailing from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ania currently lives in Greenville, South Carolina.
For more from Ania, visit her site, or connect via social media on Facebook and Twitter.
Web: http://www.aniaahlborn.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aniaahlborn
Twitter: @aniaahlborn
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,323 reviews
October 31, 2016
Stevie lives in a small town where he gets picked on in school for stuttering and 'seeing' things differently than the other kids. He also gets beat on at home by his turd of a step-father. He does have one thing that he enjoys in life though, he BFF-ship with his cousin Jude. They do the normal boy stuff, beat on each other, play Monopoly...go into the woods and find a creepy old house.
Then Jude goes missing. Everyone seems to be kinda half-heartedly looking for him. Stevie can't stand that so he decides to do the detective work himself. He has watched all those true crime TV shows after all. He misses his friend and wants him home.
He finds out that years ago there was another young boy who went missing and he was found later in pieces (totally grossed out yet? If so this gets much more gory than that..so run)
Then there is the fact that no one in town really has pets. There are animals around but they will not stay out of the woods.
Suddenly Jude does come home. The boy IS NOT the same. It's like that whole Salem's Lot thing of the dead should stay dead thing happening. But he wasn't dead. He has changed though.
Then you find out why. Good lawd.
This was the perfect day before Halloween read to scare the shit out of me. I will say that if you have some triggery stuff about animals meeting their deadly end, you probably aren't gonna love this one. Or humans meeting the end. Just hide under the covers; or do like I did and read the heck out of it.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Then Jude goes missing. Everyone seems to be kinda half-heartedly looking for him. Stevie can't stand that so he decides to do the detective work himself. He has watched all those true crime TV shows after all. He misses his friend and wants him home.
He finds out that years ago there was another young boy who went missing and he was found later in pieces (totally grossed out yet? If so this gets much more gory than that..so run)
Then there is the fact that no one in town really has pets. There are animals around but they will not stay out of the woods.
Suddenly Jude does come home. The boy IS NOT the same. It's like that whole Salem's Lot thing of the dead should stay dead thing happening. But he wasn't dead. He has changed though.
Then you find out why. Good lawd.
This was the perfect day before Halloween read to scare the shit out of me. I will say that if you have some triggery stuff about animals meeting their deadly end, you probably aren't gonna love this one. Or humans meeting the end. Just hide under the covers; or do like I did and read the heck out of it.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
March 25, 2017
If you are willing to risk your peace of mind, sit down with The Devil Crept In and begin to read. Know that the possibility is very real that it will nick and natter away at your sanity.
You come across a dilapidated house set far back in the woods. The trees around it are shivering, or perhaps it is the spiders skittering madly in the branches that make it seem so. There is something hunkered down in the shadows on the porch, something misshapen and malformed. Backtrack. Get away from there. Now.
Stevie Clark just can't seem to get a break. He has stumps for where some of his fingers should be, he stutters and stammers, speaks in rhymes that are rife with verbal ticking. He sees things that aren't really there, or at least things that can't be seen by others. Oh, and his stepfather is an absolute nightmare. Stevie has one friend, his cousin Jude. Jude goes missing for several days, and upon his return, he is Jude, but not Jude.
Another winner from Ania Ahlborn. She knows horror.
You come across a dilapidated house set far back in the woods. The trees around it are shivering, or perhaps it is the spiders skittering madly in the branches that make it seem so. There is something hunkered down in the shadows on the porch, something misshapen and malformed. Backtrack. Get away from there. Now.
Stevie Clark just can't seem to get a break. He has stumps for where some of his fingers should be, he stutters and stammers, speaks in rhymes that are rife with verbal ticking. He sees things that aren't really there, or at least things that can't be seen by others. Oh, and his stepfather is an absolute nightmare. Stevie has one friend, his cousin Jude. Jude goes missing for several days, and upon his return, he is Jude, but not Jude.
Another winner from Ania Ahlborn. She knows horror.
August 5, 2019
Ania Ahlborn’s The Devil Crept In is the new Are You Afraid of the Dark? for adults--a lot of you will know that reference *wink*. Centered around a small town in Oregon, this novel had just enough bite to be entertaining, yet, the jury is still out on whether or not anyone’s going to be kept up late at night thinking about this one.
Stevie Clark is a 10-year-old loner—rather, he has no friends other than his best friend and cousin, Jude. His slight speech impediment (echolalia) and missing fingers on one hand make him an outsider, the weird kid in the eyes of other kids. Add to that his abusive father-in-law who knows his way around a belt, and you can image how distraught Stevie would be when, one day his best friend, Jude, goes missing. When Jude suddenly turns back up, he’s…different: blank in the face, unresponsive to questions…his skin is peeling and itchy and…well, he’s attracting all the mangy, sickly neighborhood cats like some sort of sick beacon for wildlife…
All the makings of an excellent novel are here. Ahlborn even did a good job of stepping into a 10-year-old’s shoes and showing us Stevie’s world through his eyes. Stevie was as unreliable a narrator as you would expect from an elementary schooler, seeing shadows in the night and tripping and falling all over himself every time he sensed something—a moving shadow, a twitch in his periphery—out of the ordinary. His relationship to his peers and neighbors, his possibly overactive imagination—it all bundled together to work in this package. The Devil Crept In featured two converging story lines, which Ahlborn did an okay job at integrating—I say “okay” because I was prepared to throw the back of my hand to my forehead with a melodramatic sigh at the cliché-ness of the some of the plot angles. Rosie’s story line, for example, I felt I’d read somewhere already—lots of places, actually. It read like a horror-movie cliché that’d been overdone too many times. Yet, just as I was ready to heave an annoyed sigh, Ahlborn got it together and recovered pretty nicely, definitely helped along by a few awesome turns of phrase that warranted an appreciative pause. Eventually, the creepy crept in and the story lines did, indeed, tie together.
For those of you who are fans Stephen King’s child-centered scary fiction, this one may be a real treat for you! I couldn’t help but think of his “Mile 81,” because of Devil’s tone, descriptions and insight through a determined, though easily frightened, young boy’s eyes. This one read authentically from the POV of a 10-year-old, while using adult language to describe the happenings surrounding these characters. Honestly, I both appreciated that and felt jarred by it. Like, hmm, would an elementary schooler really describe a demon as having “cauliflower ears like a boxer…?” (Thinking face—probably not.)
All in all, Ania Ahlborn’s The Devil Crept In was a fun little read that could’ve been shortened down to 300 pages or so, to make it more streamlined and faster to the action. It had its pros and cons, as many novels do, but there were also more than a few loose ends here left flapping in the breeze, let me tell ya!
With that in mind, I would recommend this novel to anyone in need of a quick jolt of excitement. If you’re not interested in looking under the hood of a read to see how it all connects together—at what every little turned screw and nuance might mean for the overall performance—but you just want to get on with the creepy, pick this one up. It’ll definitely get you where you need to be. But, maybe, don’t read it alone…in the woods…
3-3.5 stars ***
I received an advance-read copy of this novel from the publisher, Gallery Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
FOLLOW ME HERE:
Art + Deco Agency Book Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Art + Deco Publishing Agency
Stevie Clark is a 10-year-old loner—rather, he has no friends other than his best friend and cousin, Jude. His slight speech impediment (echolalia) and missing fingers on one hand make him an outsider, the weird kid in the eyes of other kids. Add to that his abusive father-in-law who knows his way around a belt, and you can image how distraught Stevie would be when, one day his best friend, Jude, goes missing. When Jude suddenly turns back up, he’s…different: blank in the face, unresponsive to questions…his skin is peeling and itchy and…well, he’s attracting all the mangy, sickly neighborhood cats like some sort of sick beacon for wildlife…
All the makings of an excellent novel are here. Ahlborn even did a good job of stepping into a 10-year-old’s shoes and showing us Stevie’s world through his eyes. Stevie was as unreliable a narrator as you would expect from an elementary schooler, seeing shadows in the night and tripping and falling all over himself every time he sensed something—a moving shadow, a twitch in his periphery—out of the ordinary. His relationship to his peers and neighbors, his possibly overactive imagination—it all bundled together to work in this package. The Devil Crept In featured two converging story lines, which Ahlborn did an okay job at integrating—I say “okay” because I was prepared to throw the back of my hand to my forehead with a melodramatic sigh at the cliché-ness of the some of the plot angles. Rosie’s story line, for example, I felt I’d read somewhere already—lots of places, actually. It read like a horror-movie cliché that’d been overdone too many times. Yet, just as I was ready to heave an annoyed sigh, Ahlborn got it together and recovered pretty nicely, definitely helped along by a few awesome turns of phrase that warranted an appreciative pause. Eventually, the creepy crept in and the story lines did, indeed, tie together.
For those of you who are fans Stephen King’s child-centered scary fiction, this one may be a real treat for you! I couldn’t help but think of his “Mile 81,” because of Devil’s tone, descriptions and insight through a determined, though easily frightened, young boy’s eyes. This one read authentically from the POV of a 10-year-old, while using adult language to describe the happenings surrounding these characters. Honestly, I both appreciated that and felt jarred by it. Like, hmm, would an elementary schooler really describe a demon as having “cauliflower ears like a boxer…?” (Thinking face—probably not.)
All in all, Ania Ahlborn’s The Devil Crept In was a fun little read that could’ve been shortened down to 300 pages or so, to make it more streamlined and faster to the action. It had its pros and cons, as many novels do, but there were also more than a few loose ends here left flapping in the breeze, let me tell ya!
With that in mind, I would recommend this novel to anyone in need of a quick jolt of excitement. If you’re not interested in looking under the hood of a read to see how it all connects together—at what every little turned screw and nuance might mean for the overall performance—but you just want to get on with the creepy, pick this one up. It’ll definitely get you where you need to be. But, maybe, don’t read it alone…in the woods…
3-3.5 stars ***
I received an advance-read copy of this novel from the publisher, Gallery Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
FOLLOW ME HERE:
Art + Deco Agency Book Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Art + Deco Publishing Agency
March 30, 2017
I REALLY wanted to like this book. AND this fell so flat for me and a huge disappointment. I would give this 2 stars. And I am a little shocked to see all the 4 and 5 stars for this one.
I'm a HUGE horror fan and have watched almost every horror movie out there. SO, I guess my standards for horror are a little high? But, no they aren't haha.
But, damn was I bored in this book. The beginning I was thinking.. ok hopefully this will pick up. It started to get good in the middle and then I just got super confused with what was going on. I felt like this was a Stephen King wannabe and it just wasn't there for me.
The substance/meat of the excellent horror villain was definitely not there at all. I caught myself rolling my eyes multiple times and thinking really? Are we in second grade and reading Goosebumps?
But, again this type of "horror" may be really scary for some readers. I almost couldn't finish the book because I was thinking ok... can this end already? (Yikes... that sounds bad). And finally, after all that... that's it? Whomp whomp :(.
This was my first read by Ania Ahlborn and I was disappointed. I'm not sure I would read another by this author again.
I'm a HUGE horror fan and have watched almost every horror movie out there. SO, I guess my standards for horror are a little high? But, no they aren't haha.
But, damn was I bored in this book. The beginning I was thinking.. ok hopefully this will pick up. It started to get good in the middle and then I just got super confused with what was going on. I felt like this was a Stephen King wannabe and it just wasn't there for me.
The substance/meat of the excellent horror villain was definitely not there at all. I caught myself rolling my eyes multiple times and thinking really? Are we in second grade and reading Goosebumps?
But, again this type of "horror" may be really scary for some readers. I almost couldn't finish the book because I was thinking ok... can this end already? (Yikes... that sounds bad). And finally, after all that... that's it? Whomp whomp :(.
This was my first read by Ania Ahlborn and I was disappointed. I'm not sure I would read another by this author again.
December 8, 2016
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
“I’d stay out of those woods if I were you. There’s something out there, and I can tell you it’s not a cougar or any of the nonsense the police keep trying to sell.”
A wise man once said . . . .
Such is the case when Jude goes missing after exploring the woods behind his house in Oregon only to show up several days later without being able to provide many answers as to where he’s been. As Jude’s behavior becomes more odd, only his cousin Stevie questions what really happened to him while he was gone . . . .
“Something was wrong with Jude. Really really wrong.”
I was all over The Devil Crept In like stink on shit as soon as I saw it due to my previous Ania Ahlborn experience. However, since I’m a moron I failed to review it after I finished until 11811(Eleven)’s review jogged my memory. Do you know Eleven? You should. Mainly because he looks like he could do . . . .
But I digress. Once I finished cleaning up after peeing myself over my friend's opening line about his potential for fathering an heir like Otto I started yakking this little bit of nothing out.
As I said, I snatched this up as quickly as my fat little fingers could pretty much knowing that . . . .
(^^^^That’s middle-aged white man speak for “DIS GUN B GUUD”)
My assumption was correct. Ahlborn spins a good yarn and I was forced to read this only when other humans were present in my house due to the fact that . . . .
The entire story delivered that goosepimply, hair-raised-on-the-back-of-your-neck uneasiness. This author has definitely earned herself a fan and I will be seeking out more of her stuff in the future . . . . but I’ll make sure to only admire her from afar as Eleven has already claimed her as his celebrity crush.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
“I’d stay out of those woods if I were you. There’s something out there, and I can tell you it’s not a cougar or any of the nonsense the police keep trying to sell.”
A wise man once said . . . .
Such is the case when Jude goes missing after exploring the woods behind his house in Oregon only to show up several days later without being able to provide many answers as to where he’s been. As Jude’s behavior becomes more odd, only his cousin Stevie questions what really happened to him while he was gone . . . .
“Something was wrong with Jude. Really really wrong.”
I was all over The Devil Crept In like stink on shit as soon as I saw it due to my previous Ania Ahlborn experience. However, since I’m a moron I failed to review it after I finished until 11811(Eleven)’s review jogged my memory. Do you know Eleven? You should. Mainly because he looks like he could do . . . .
But I digress. Once I finished cleaning up after peeing myself over my friend's opening line about his potential for fathering an heir like Otto I started yakking this little bit of nothing out.
As I said, I snatched this up as quickly as my fat little fingers could pretty much knowing that . . . .
(^^^^That’s middle-aged white man speak for “DIS GUN B GUUD”)
My assumption was correct. Ahlborn spins a good yarn and I was forced to read this only when other humans were present in my house due to the fact that . . . .
The entire story delivered that goosepimply, hair-raised-on-the-back-of-your-neck uneasiness. This author has definitely earned herself a fan and I will be seeking out more of her stuff in the future . . . . but I’ll make sure to only admire her from afar as Eleven has already claimed her as his celebrity crush.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
March 27, 2017
I've said it before in a previous review but I'll say it again, Ania Ahlborn has closed that gap between male and female writers of horror. She is right up there with the best of the best.
I buddy read this book with three other ladies. Jo @jobis89 Mindi @gowsy33 and Ashley @bookishmommy all of us got this book in our Nocturnal Readers Box.
I think this was Ashley's first attempt at reading horror. This is not our first trip to the circus for the rest of us, we're old hats at horror. *wink* And this is my third Alhborn book.
Part one of this has a similar vibe as Stranger Things and Paul Tremblay's The Disappearance at Devil's Rock--we have an unreliable narrator, 10 year old Stevie, who is going through the disappearance of his best friend and cousin, Jude.
Part Two is CRAZY! You find yourself being drawn in to a completely new story with a different narrator. The stories are connected but you don't know how or why, immediately. I LOVED the second story. I could not stop reading it. But I won't divulge any plot details for that.
Part Three brings the two stories together in a binge-worthy climax to the conclusion and epilogue.
Ahlborn is an amazing storyteller. Her writing style is very fluid, natural and interesting. She expertly switched narratives with a deft hand--in the mind of a ten year old boy and then a grown woman in the next. Both narratives believable. I have an 11 year old boy so I appreciated the specific details and nuances that made Stevie so realistic.
This story runs the full scope of emotions you want from horror: Unsettled, curious, shocked, scared, that sense of panic and urgency. I loved every minute of it! I highly recommend it for fans of horror and I'll be collecting all of this author's books! Going back and getting her older books and then insta-buying all of her new ones.
I buddy read this book with three other ladies. Jo @jobis89 Mindi @gowsy33 and Ashley @bookishmommy all of us got this book in our Nocturnal Readers Box.
I think this was Ashley's first attempt at reading horror. This is not our first trip to the circus for the rest of us, we're old hats at horror. *wink* And this is my third Alhborn book.
Part one of this has a similar vibe as Stranger Things and Paul Tremblay's The Disappearance at Devil's Rock--we have an unreliable narrator, 10 year old Stevie, who is going through the disappearance of his best friend and cousin, Jude.
Part Two is CRAZY! You find yourself being drawn in to a completely new story with a different narrator. The stories are connected but you don't know how or why, immediately. I LOVED the second story. I could not stop reading it. But I won't divulge any plot details for that.
Part Three brings the two stories together in a binge-worthy climax to the conclusion and epilogue.
Ahlborn is an amazing storyteller. Her writing style is very fluid, natural and interesting. She expertly switched narratives with a deft hand--in the mind of a ten year old boy and then a grown woman in the next. Both narratives believable. I have an 11 year old boy so I appreciated the specific details and nuances that made Stevie so realistic.
This story runs the full scope of emotions you want from horror: Unsettled, curious, shocked, scared, that sense of panic and urgency. I loved every minute of it! I highly recommend it for fans of horror and I'll be collecting all of this author's books! Going back and getting her older books and then insta-buying all of her new ones.
March 30, 2017
Jude goes missing, so his cousin tries to find him. The animals in this town are all disappearing. Years ago, a boy went missing only to be found dead in pieces. And now when Jude suddenly reappears, he is different.
Stevie is best friends with his cousin Jude. Jude is two years older and is really his only friend. Stevie is bullied because he has a speech impediment and missing fingers on one hand. He also has an abusive step-father. It is really sad, so by the time Jude is missing you really feel for Stevie. My heart hurt for him. I only wish the first part wasn't so slow-burn. It took a while to really pull me into the story.
The second part follows Rosie's perspective. She is a woman living in the forest who desperately wants a baby. And part three is where the two storylines come together and everything begins to make more sense.
I prefer books to have some sort of plausibility even within completely unrealistic situations. I just want things to add up. I can certainly stretch and bend my imagination, go with the flow of things. But if things don't even make sense within the terms of the plot, then I just can't.
There were loose ends, things that don't work together, and one of the characters (Stevie's mom, Nicole) seemed to change depending on the situation the author was trying to display.
If it weren't for the epilogue, this may have even been a 1 star for me. The ending was beyond excellent for a story that didn't make sense. I love an ending that makes you question everything you assume you know. You could honestly jump in at part 3 only knowing that a boy went missing and just returned and you'd still get the same effect from the ending. The only issue is you'd have to suffer through unnecessary, questionable details.
This just didn't work for me.
Stevie is best friends with his cousin Jude. Jude is two years older and is really his only friend. Stevie is bullied because he has a speech impediment and missing fingers on one hand. He also has an abusive step-father. It is really sad, so by the time Jude is missing you really feel for Stevie. My heart hurt for him. I only wish the first part wasn't so slow-burn. It took a while to really pull me into the story.
The second part follows Rosie's perspective. She is a woman living in the forest who desperately wants a baby. And part three is where the two storylines come together and everything begins to make more sense.
I prefer books to have some sort of plausibility even within completely unrealistic situations. I just want things to add up. I can certainly stretch and bend my imagination, go with the flow of things. But if things don't even make sense within the terms of the plot, then I just can't.
There were loose ends, things that don't work together, and one of the characters (Stevie's mom, Nicole) seemed to change depending on the situation the author was trying to display.
If it weren't for the epilogue, this may have even been a 1 star for me. The ending was beyond excellent for a story that didn't make sense. I love an ending that makes you question everything you assume you know. You could honestly jump in at part 3 only knowing that a boy went missing and just returned and you'd still get the same effect from the ending. The only issue is you'd have to suffer through unnecessary, questionable details.
This just didn't work for me.
Read
July 11, 2021So frustrated !!!
It appears my ebook has two versions of this novel and I read the one that was unpolished.
I am not going to re-read it.
Aaaaaargh. so frustrated and annoyed.
This will remain unrated.
That devil certainly crept in !!
It appears my ebook has two versions of this novel and I read the one that was unpolished.
I am not going to re-read it.
Aaaaaargh. so frustrated and annoyed.
This will remain unrated.
That devil certainly crept in !!
February 7, 2017
5 stars for this CRAZY read!!! This book was utterly chilling and completely addictive. Ahlborn is SUCH a superb storyteller - her books have the blood & guts of a horror novel, but they're intelligently plotted and masterfully developed. Holy freaking cow, I loved this read.
This book definitely starts out a bit slower - I didn't find it scary until I got past the first 100 pages. Don't expect the book to be in-your-face scary right away. If you're okay with being patient in that way, you will be completely rewarded!! Ania knows exactly what she's doing, and readers will be thrilled to discover she's been setting them up for some seriously twisted surprises. It's hard to discuss this one without spoiling it - so I'll just say, this book is another major winner from Ania Ahlborn.
This book definitely starts out a bit slower - I didn't find it scary until I got past the first 100 pages. Don't expect the book to be in-your-face scary right away. If you're okay with being patient in that way, you will be completely rewarded!! Ania knows exactly what she's doing, and readers will be thrilled to discover she's been setting them up for some seriously twisted surprises. It's hard to discuss this one without spoiling it - so I'll just say, this book is another major winner from Ania Ahlborn.
September 2, 2017
I love horror books and this was the best I've read in a while. I haven't read many lately though since i have a hard time finding good horror authors/books. Ahlborn's writing reminds me of Nick Cutter's horror style; creepy but not too ridiculous. Honestly this is the best horror I've read since reading Cutter's The Troop and The Deep (his newer title Little Heaven didn't live up to the hype for me). I can't wait to read more of Ahlborn's work!
December 5, 2016
I never made a kid but if I did, he'd probably be something like Otto - not much of a conversationalist, loves animals... you'll get to know Otto better when you read the book...
I love Ania's writing. Different from Stephen King, but like the King, events that occur outside of the specific plot glue me to the pages as much as whatever relates directly to the story itself, and like the King, she's a great fucking storyteller.
The story of two adolescent boys written by a woman who must have been an adolescent boy in a past life because she captures it so well. Our protagonist has an authentic ten year old understanding of real life problems. He gets it. Not always 100%, but he gets it. He knows some older people get sick with the "melon noma." He knows some soldiers come home with the "post dramatic stress." He knows these things. Imperfectly, but pretty close. That's growing up.
Ania nails growing up.
I think this is being officially released tomorrow so if you're coming across this review today, it's a great excuse to buy a copy. Top notch coming-of-age-horror. 4+ stars.
I received a free ARC from Netgalley blah blah blah, honest review, blah blah blah...
I love Ania's writing. Different from Stephen King, but like the King, events that occur outside of the specific plot glue me to the pages as much as whatever relates directly to the story itself, and like the King, she's a great fucking storyteller.
The story of two adolescent boys written by a woman who must have been an adolescent boy in a past life because she captures it so well. Our protagonist has an authentic ten year old understanding of real life problems. He gets it. Not always 100%, but he gets it. He knows some older people get sick with the "melon noma." He knows some soldiers come home with the "post dramatic stress." He knows these things. Imperfectly, but pretty close. That's growing up.
Ania nails growing up.
I think this is being officially released tomorrow so if you're coming across this review today, it's a great excuse to buy a copy. Top notch coming-of-age-horror. 4+ stars.
I received a free ARC from Netgalley blah blah blah, honest review, blah blah blah...
February 28, 2017
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/02/28/...
Don’t you just love it whenever a horror novel lives up to its promise? No joke, I actually had to stop reading this book at night because it was getting too disturbing and creepy for me, and you know I’m not one to scare easily. If this is what I’ve been missing out on for so many years, I wish to hell I’d started reading Ania Ahlborn much sooner.
In the small town of Deer Valley, Oregon lives a ten-year-old boy named Stevie Clark. Ostracized by the other kids at school because of his speech impediment and the missing fingers on one of his hands, Stevie has no friends except for his neighbor and cousin Jude Brighton. Whether it’s watching true crime shows on TV or building a secret fort out in the woods, the two of them do everything together and have been inseparable for years.
Then one day, Jude goes missing. The entire town mobilizes to try to find the boy, but after his bloody sweatshirt is found, the whole mood of Deer Valley seems to shift. To Stevie’s frustration, no one seems to think they’ll find his cousin alive anymore. After all, the search has already been going on for three days with no luck, and the locals all know the story about Max Larsen, another boy who met a gruesome end in these woods years ago, after disappearing under similar circumstances. That story doesn’t get talked about much though, not unlike the reports going back for years about the dogs and cats that go missing from their owners’ yards. There’s a good reason why there are no veterinarians in Deer Valley.
Last year I read and was a little disappointed by the book Disappearance at Devil’s Rock by Paul Tremblay, another horror novel with “a boy goes missing in the woods” main plot. Somehow I can’t help but think The Devil Crept In is what that story should have been. Ahlborn’s take on the premise is the real deal, the way a true horror of psychological thrills and supernatural suspense should have played out. It is a creepy tale worthy of the campfire, containing all the right ingredients: a small town with a big secret, a terrifying local legend that holds more truth than meets the eye, and a young innocent boy that no one takes seriously because of his disability.
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing from the start; like any good scary story, this one required a bit of setup. I would describe The Devil Crept In as a novel of three parts. Ahlborn uses the first to establish our main character, a boy who lives a troubled life. Stevie’s father walked out on his family when he was younger, and his mom remarried an abusive man who beats him while she looks the other way. Stevie also often feels frustration at his own speech disorder, unable to get his thoughts across without losing control of his words. He is the target of the worst bullying because of it, not only by the other kids but by his own older brother and some adults as well. So you can imagine how horrible it is for a someone like Stevie to lose his only friend, which means too that the entire first part of this book is taken up by his obsession with finding Jude, with the dogged determination you would expect from a ten-year-old. In my opinion, the introduction was a little too drawn out, with Stevie’s chapters becoming repetitive after a while.
Fortunately, that was probably the only point where I felt this book faltered. Ahlborn follows up with a second part that brings about the full-on creeps. The transition was a little jarring at first, as the narrative veers off into a completely different direction, starting over with a seemingly unrelated tale about a woman named Rosie. I’m not going to talk too much about her, as that would spoil the story; all I’ll say is that I quickly became riveted by the horrifying details of her tragic, disturbing life—like witnessing a bloody car wreck where you just can’t tear your eyes away. It might take some time for this part to make sense with the rest of the novel, but once it clicks into place, you’ll see how it all the pieces fit the big picture. The third and final part of The Devil Crept In is where all this magic happens, as elements from Jude’s disappearance and Rosie’s tale begin to gradually come together.
The results are eerily satisfying and really hit the spot. Note to self: no trips out to the woods anytime soon. For a straight-up entertaining and chill-you-t0-your-bones good read, I really can’t recommend this book enough. Mark my words, The Devil Crept In might be my first novel by Ania Ahlborn, but it certainly won’t be my last.
Don’t you just love it whenever a horror novel lives up to its promise? No joke, I actually had to stop reading this book at night because it was getting too disturbing and creepy for me, and you know I’m not one to scare easily. If this is what I’ve been missing out on for so many years, I wish to hell I’d started reading Ania Ahlborn much sooner.
In the small town of Deer Valley, Oregon lives a ten-year-old boy named Stevie Clark. Ostracized by the other kids at school because of his speech impediment and the missing fingers on one of his hands, Stevie has no friends except for his neighbor and cousin Jude Brighton. Whether it’s watching true crime shows on TV or building a secret fort out in the woods, the two of them do everything together and have been inseparable for years.
Then one day, Jude goes missing. The entire town mobilizes to try to find the boy, but after his bloody sweatshirt is found, the whole mood of Deer Valley seems to shift. To Stevie’s frustration, no one seems to think they’ll find his cousin alive anymore. After all, the search has already been going on for three days with no luck, and the locals all know the story about Max Larsen, another boy who met a gruesome end in these woods years ago, after disappearing under similar circumstances. That story doesn’t get talked about much though, not unlike the reports going back for years about the dogs and cats that go missing from their owners’ yards. There’s a good reason why there are no veterinarians in Deer Valley.
Last year I read and was a little disappointed by the book Disappearance at Devil’s Rock by Paul Tremblay, another horror novel with “a boy goes missing in the woods” main plot. Somehow I can’t help but think The Devil Crept In is what that story should have been. Ahlborn’s take on the premise is the real deal, the way a true horror of psychological thrills and supernatural suspense should have played out. It is a creepy tale worthy of the campfire, containing all the right ingredients: a small town with a big secret, a terrifying local legend that holds more truth than meets the eye, and a young innocent boy that no one takes seriously because of his disability.
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing from the start; like any good scary story, this one required a bit of setup. I would describe The Devil Crept In as a novel of three parts. Ahlborn uses the first to establish our main character, a boy who lives a troubled life. Stevie’s father walked out on his family when he was younger, and his mom remarried an abusive man who beats him while she looks the other way. Stevie also often feels frustration at his own speech disorder, unable to get his thoughts across without losing control of his words. He is the target of the worst bullying because of it, not only by the other kids but by his own older brother and some adults as well. So you can imagine how horrible it is for a someone like Stevie to lose his only friend, which means too that the entire first part of this book is taken up by his obsession with finding Jude, with the dogged determination you would expect from a ten-year-old. In my opinion, the introduction was a little too drawn out, with Stevie’s chapters becoming repetitive after a while.
Fortunately, that was probably the only point where I felt this book faltered. Ahlborn follows up with a second part that brings about the full-on creeps. The transition was a little jarring at first, as the narrative veers off into a completely different direction, starting over with a seemingly unrelated tale about a woman named Rosie. I’m not going to talk too much about her, as that would spoil the story; all I’ll say is that I quickly became riveted by the horrifying details of her tragic, disturbing life—like witnessing a bloody car wreck where you just can’t tear your eyes away. It might take some time for this part to make sense with the rest of the novel, but once it clicks into place, you’ll see how it all the pieces fit the big picture. The third and final part of The Devil Crept In is where all this magic happens, as elements from Jude’s disappearance and Rosie’s tale begin to gradually come together.
The results are eerily satisfying and really hit the spot. Note to self: no trips out to the woods anytime soon. For a straight-up entertaining and chill-you-t0-your-bones good read, I really can’t recommend this book enough. Mark my words, The Devil Crept In might be my first novel by Ania Ahlborn, but it certainly won’t be my last.
April 7, 2017
This story starts out a little slow but it’s of the slow burn variety that builds into something terrible and terrifying so I didn’t mind too much.
Stevie's best and only friend, Jude, wandered out into the woods near their home one day and never came home. No one besides Jude's mother and Stevie seem terribly upset about it. Jude was an unlikable sort, sure, but the lack of interest in finding him is a little bothersome so Stevie decides to investigate on his own. He and Jude had spent endless hours in the forest doing what boys do in the woods and came upon a creepy old house. Stevie is certain that house has something to do with Jude’s disappearance.
This story is a mishmash of many horror-ish things. It’s a coming of age tale mixed up with remnants of King’s Pet Sematary and a splattering of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre but it’s totally its own story. What is eventually revealed is horrifying, disturbing and very gruesome and could give you nightmares if you think about the images too much.
I enjoyed the slow unraveling of this story and watching how the origin of a nightmare begins. Stevie was an interesting kid, struggling with a disorder that makes him a target and growing up with an assholish step-dad. He’s determined to find his friend and later he’s unafraid to stir up a little trouble to get at the truth. There’s a side story that I won’t reveal that absolutely captured me where one very unlucky woman is faced with a moral dilemma like none other I’ve ever read and I felt for her. She only wanted love but she got something else entirely!
A word of warning, if you need one, there are deaths in here and many of them happen to innocent little beasts but it’s all part of this story and felt like an awful, natural progression of one of the characters.
If you like your horror gory and creepy then this one’s for you.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. Thanks, Netgalley!
Stevie's best and only friend, Jude, wandered out into the woods near their home one day and never came home. No one besides Jude's mother and Stevie seem terribly upset about it. Jude was an unlikable sort, sure, but the lack of interest in finding him is a little bothersome so Stevie decides to investigate on his own. He and Jude had spent endless hours in the forest doing what boys do in the woods and came upon a creepy old house. Stevie is certain that house has something to do with Jude’s disappearance.
This story is a mishmash of many horror-ish things. It’s a coming of age tale mixed up with remnants of King’s Pet Sematary and a splattering of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre but it’s totally its own story. What is eventually revealed is horrifying, disturbing and very gruesome and could give you nightmares if you think about the images too much.
I enjoyed the slow unraveling of this story and watching how the origin of a nightmare begins. Stevie was an interesting kid, struggling with a disorder that makes him a target and growing up with an assholish step-dad. He’s determined to find his friend and later he’s unafraid to stir up a little trouble to get at the truth. There’s a side story that I won’t reveal that absolutely captured me where one very unlucky woman is faced with a moral dilemma like none other I’ve ever read and I felt for her. She only wanted love but she got something else entirely!
A word of warning, if you need one, there are deaths in here and many of them happen to innocent little beasts but it’s all part of this story and felt like an awful, natural progression of one of the characters.
If you like your horror gory and creepy then this one’s for you.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. Thanks, Netgalley!
January 14, 2024
This was pretty good! I don't feel like it was particularly memorable or like I'll have a lot to say about it when I type up a review, but it was a solid introduction to Ania Ahlborn's work and I'm looking forward to picking up another story of hers soon!
✨ Representation: disabled protagonist (missing multiple fingers) with an undiagnosed mental illness (implied schizophrenia) and Tourette's
✨ Content warnings for:
———
twitter | booktok | bookstagram | blog
✨ Representation: disabled protagonist (missing multiple fingers) with an undiagnosed mental illness (implied schizophrenia) and Tourette's
✨ Content warnings for:
———
twitter | booktok | bookstagram | blog
February 7, 2017
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
I enjoyed this book overall. It was a rather slow starting book for me and I had a hard time really getting into the story at first. The whole first part of the book just didn't do a lot for me. The second section of the book picked up a bit and I found myself really getting interested. By the time, I got to the third part of the book, I was hooked and I couldn't wait to see how everything would come together.
Stevie is a 10 year old boy living with his mom, step-dad, and brother, Dunk. He lives next door to his best friend, Jude, who is also his cousin. Jude is missing at the opening of the book and Stevie wants everyone to look for him a bit harder than they are. He decides to do his own detective work and does a little investigating of his own.
Everyone is searching the wood of Deer Creek for Jude. Jude and Stevie have always spent a lot of time in the woods, building forts and looking at that spooky house by the logging road. There always seems to be a lot of stray animals in and around the woods as well. In fact, all of the animals in Deer Creek seem to be in the woods instead of neighborhood homes and backyards.
A large portion of this book is told from Stevie's point of view. Stevie is young, scared, and confused by the things that are happening. He has echolalia which means that his speech patterns tend to have a lot of repetition. I think that the author did a fantastic job of showing how hard it was for Stevie to be taken seriously and get his thoughts out. Stevie is not a character that I ever really liked. I felt bad for him with his speech difficulties but I became tired of reading his repetitive speech.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a creepy story. This is the second book by Ania Ahlborn that I have read and while I didn't like it nearly as much as I enjoyed Brother, I found it to be a solid story. I can't wait to read more of this author's work soon.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I definitely liked some parts of this book much more than others. The beginning was slow for me but the last 25% of the book was fantastic.
I enjoyed this book overall. It was a rather slow starting book for me and I had a hard time really getting into the story at first. The whole first part of the book just didn't do a lot for me. The second section of the book picked up a bit and I found myself really getting interested. By the time, I got to the third part of the book, I was hooked and I couldn't wait to see how everything would come together.
Stevie is a 10 year old boy living with his mom, step-dad, and brother, Dunk. He lives next door to his best friend, Jude, who is also his cousin. Jude is missing at the opening of the book and Stevie wants everyone to look for him a bit harder than they are. He decides to do his own detective work and does a little investigating of his own.
Everyone is searching the wood of Deer Creek for Jude. Jude and Stevie have always spent a lot of time in the woods, building forts and looking at that spooky house by the logging road. There always seems to be a lot of stray animals in and around the woods as well. In fact, all of the animals in Deer Creek seem to be in the woods instead of neighborhood homes and backyards.
A large portion of this book is told from Stevie's point of view. Stevie is young, scared, and confused by the things that are happening. He has echolalia which means that his speech patterns tend to have a lot of repetition. I think that the author did a fantastic job of showing how hard it was for Stevie to be taken seriously and get his thoughts out. Stevie is not a character that I ever really liked. I felt bad for him with his speech difficulties but I became tired of reading his repetitive speech.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a creepy story. This is the second book by Ania Ahlborn that I have read and while I didn't like it nearly as much as I enjoyed Brother, I found it to be a solid story. I can't wait to read more of this author's work soon.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I definitely liked some parts of this book much more than others. The beginning was slow for me but the last 25% of the book was fantastic.
October 3, 2022
Ten year old Stevie and his cousin Jude are best friends. They spend most of their time together playing in the woods. Until one day Jude disappears. Frantic Stevie searches everywhere for him. Even the creepy rundown house deep in the woods to no avail. Suddenly Jude shows up on his doorstep a few days later. However Jude has changed. He is no longer the cousin he has known all his life.
Deep in the woods lives a woman in a rundown house who many years ago wanted to trade everything for a child. What she got was an abomination. The thing she gave birth to turned into a monster. Stuck between her maternal instincts and the need for freedom she has to decide if she can save herself.
All their fates collide together one summer night when Jude disappears. What is the monster? Can it be stopped? Where are all the damn pets disappearing to? Will Stevie's butthead stepdad get the death he deserves?
Usually I don't like books told from a young child's POV. I get bored quickly. However this one kept me holding on tight. Don't come in wanting a happy ending. Stevie deserved better Ania.
Deep in the woods lives a woman in a rundown house who many years ago wanted to trade everything for a child. What she got was an abomination. The thing she gave birth to turned into a monster. Stuck between her maternal instincts and the need for freedom she has to decide if she can save herself.
All their fates collide together one summer night when Jude disappears. What is the monster? Can it be stopped? Where are all the damn pets disappearing to? Will Stevie's butthead stepdad get the death he deserves?
Usually I don't like books told from a young child's POV. I get bored quickly. However this one kept me holding on tight. Don't come in wanting a happy ending. Stevie deserved better Ania.
December 3, 2016
THE DEVIL CREPT IN, by Ania Ahlborn, is the story of two cousins, Stevie and Jude, and what happens when Jude disappears one fateful day. Although Stevie is two years younger than his cousin, the boys are best friends--due to Stevie's mangled hand, stuttering, and occasional hallucinations, and Jude's penchant for disregarding rules with his dangerous, angry streak--nobody else bothers with either of them.
"Life is no fun without the risk . . . "
When Jude disappears, Stevie views the half-hearted attempt made at finding him with contempt. Labeled as a "troublemaker" the adults casually comment that the boy simply left town on his own. Fueled by his frustration and the loss of his only friend, Stevie determines that he'll investigate the matter, himself.
". . . nobody was doing anything. They were all just waiting for another funeral."
What he uncovers are further mysteries--things that most people in the town won't admit to noticing.
Then, Jude comes home . . .
The rest of the story builds on the characters in the book, but most of all Stevie, and Jude--before his disappearance. Things begin clicking into place quickly by this point, the only real question remaining being how it all will end.
An emotional tale, highlighting the various conditions that bond one person to another, the small town residents that refuse to open their eyes to acknowledge the full picture, and the quest for the real truth that one boy embarks upon.
". . . it's never the way you want it . . . The universe doesn't care."
A solid novel from an author I expect to read much more from in the future.
Recommended!
*I chose to read an ARC of this e-book through NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are uniquely my own.*
"Life is no fun without the risk . . . "
When Jude disappears, Stevie views the half-hearted attempt made at finding him with contempt. Labeled as a "troublemaker" the adults casually comment that the boy simply left town on his own. Fueled by his frustration and the loss of his only friend, Stevie determines that he'll investigate the matter, himself.
". . . nobody was doing anything. They were all just waiting for another funeral."
What he uncovers are further mysteries--things that most people in the town won't admit to noticing.
Then, Jude comes home . . .
The rest of the story builds on the characters in the book, but most of all Stevie, and Jude--before his disappearance. Things begin clicking into place quickly by this point, the only real question remaining being how it all will end.
An emotional tale, highlighting the various conditions that bond one person to another, the small town residents that refuse to open their eyes to acknowledge the full picture, and the quest for the real truth that one boy embarks upon.
". . . it's never the way you want it . . . The universe doesn't care."
A solid novel from an author I expect to read much more from in the future.
Recommended!
*I chose to read an ARC of this e-book through NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are uniquely my own.*
February 10, 2017
2.5 Stars
I'm not going to lie, this book threw me, it was so very...weird. But of course, in the best most messed up way possible.
Just when you think you know what is going on, the author would throw in another twist or another hint at something totally “else” and I would have to start all over again in wondering what the heck was really going on.
This was disturbing and gritty, and twisted and completely perfect for the fall season when I read it. It was creepy and raw, and even a bit vulgar but it was so realistically done and told through the point of view of a ten year old boy that was anything but normal, and therefore, so very fitting to the whole story.
This was my first experience with this author and while I just might not every be the same because of it, I liked what I read and how it messed with me and made me question and think, and cringe and gasp. It truly was a story unlike any other I have read and because of that, I would definitely try this author again.
*ARC copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
I'm not going to lie, this book threw me, it was so very...weird. But of course, in the best most messed up way possible.
Just when you think you know what is going on, the author would throw in another twist or another hint at something totally “else” and I would have to start all over again in wondering what the heck was really going on.
This was disturbing and gritty, and twisted and completely perfect for the fall season when I read it. It was creepy and raw, and even a bit vulgar but it was so realistically done and told through the point of view of a ten year old boy that was anything but normal, and therefore, so very fitting to the whole story.
This was my first experience with this author and while I just might not every be the same because of it, I liked what I read and how it messed with me and made me question and think, and cringe and gasp. It truly was a story unlike any other I have read and because of that, I would definitely try this author again.
*ARC copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
May 21, 2019
2.5 Stars
I am reluctant to admit this online, but I am very hit or miss with Ania Ahlborn’s books. Unfortunately, this one was another miss for me. I liked the premise behind this story, but I just couldn’t get invested in the plot or characters. Towards the end of story, I did get somewhat pulled into the narrative so I suppose it was worth finishing.
I am reluctant to admit this online, but I am very hit or miss with Ania Ahlborn’s books. Unfortunately, this one was another miss for me. I liked the premise behind this story, but I just couldn’t get invested in the plot or characters. Towards the end of story, I did get somewhat pulled into the narrative so I suppose it was worth finishing.
March 27, 2017
"Because it's never the way you want it, she thought. The universe doesn't care."
Stevie Clark's best friend, Jude Brighton, has gone missing. With each passing hour, Stevie knows that the likelihood of Jude being found alive and well is falling. But the problem is, no one seems to care as much as Stevie does, and he is adamant to find out what has happened to his best friend. Stevie soon learns about the similar disappearance a number of years ago of another young boy, Max Larsen, who's dead body was eventually found. Other strange things are occurring in the little town of Deer Valley... pets who no longer want to stay at home and go disappearing from yards. No matter how horrifying it may be, Stevie wants to know the truth, at any cost.
Okay, first of all, this was my first encounter with Ania Ahlborn, and I was BLOWN AWAY. I am a pretty fast reader I'd say, it's more finding the actual time to read that is difficult for me, but I started this book on Friday evening and finished it up on Sunday evening (it's about 400 pages, so a medium-sized book). My other weekend plans, such as revising for my PhD...kinda took a backseat as I raced through the book. It was unputdownable! Her writing style is so effortless and insists on being binged upon. Right away I was looking at her other books online, so thank you to the Nocturnal Readers box for introducing me to this awesome writer.
As for the story itself, WOW. It was creepy, unsettling, unnerving, horrifying... basically everything I want from a horror book. I feel like I don't want to say too much about the plot because I went in knowing NOTHING and I really think that enhanced my experience. So, just prepare to be creeped out! And prepare to fall in love with the character of little Stevie Clark. He was so well-developed and likeable and you are just on his side from the first page. The lengths he will go for his cousin and best friend is admirable for such a young child. When no one else seems to care and they have given up on Jude, Stevie is still there, trying everything in his power to solve the mystery. Great character. The character of Rosamund was also perfectly written. Her introduction was confusing at first, as I thought "Where is this going?" but then it quickly made sense and it all really paid off. Her storyline was heartbreaking and crazy insane all at the same time.
Okay, I don't want to say any more, because if you're going to go out and buy this book (which you should), you need to go in without knowing a thing! You won't regret it. 5 stars out of 5 for me! And a great new author that I can start obsessing over... awesome!
Stevie Clark's best friend, Jude Brighton, has gone missing. With each passing hour, Stevie knows that the likelihood of Jude being found alive and well is falling. But the problem is, no one seems to care as much as Stevie does, and he is adamant to find out what has happened to his best friend. Stevie soon learns about the similar disappearance a number of years ago of another young boy, Max Larsen, who's dead body was eventually found. Other strange things are occurring in the little town of Deer Valley... pets who no longer want to stay at home and go disappearing from yards. No matter how horrifying it may be, Stevie wants to know the truth, at any cost.
Okay, first of all, this was my first encounter with Ania Ahlborn, and I was BLOWN AWAY. I am a pretty fast reader I'd say, it's more finding the actual time to read that is difficult for me, but I started this book on Friday evening and finished it up on Sunday evening (it's about 400 pages, so a medium-sized book). My other weekend plans, such as revising for my PhD...kinda took a backseat as I raced through the book. It was unputdownable! Her writing style is so effortless and insists on being binged upon. Right away I was looking at her other books online, so thank you to the Nocturnal Readers box for introducing me to this awesome writer.
As for the story itself, WOW. It was creepy, unsettling, unnerving, horrifying... basically everything I want from a horror book. I feel like I don't want to say too much about the plot because I went in knowing NOTHING and I really think that enhanced my experience. So, just prepare to be creeped out! And prepare to fall in love with the character of little Stevie Clark. He was so well-developed and likeable and you are just on his side from the first page. The lengths he will go for his cousin and best friend is admirable for such a young child. When no one else seems to care and they have given up on Jude, Stevie is still there, trying everything in his power to solve the mystery. Great character. The character of Rosamund was also perfectly written. Her introduction was confusing at first, as I thought "Where is this going?" but then it quickly made sense and it all really paid off. Her storyline was heartbreaking and crazy insane all at the same time.
Okay, I don't want to say any more, because if you're going to go out and buy this book (which you should), you need to go in without knowing a thing! You won't regret it. 5 stars out of 5 for me! And a great new author that I can start obsessing over... awesome!
February 11, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
4.5/5
I was a bit skeptical when I first started this one, it was on the slow side and there wasn’t much to be afraid of. I needn’t have worried because as the book progressed, so did the creep factor. This is broken up into three parts; part one is told by Stevie a ten year old boy. His cousin and best friend Jude is missing and he’s frantic with worry. Part two is told from Rosie’s perspective, she’s a young woman living deep in the forest of Deer Valley, Oregon with her husband and she desperately wants a child. Part three is when things really start to get intense and downright horrifying as the storylines merge together.
Even though the pacing for the beginning of Jude’s story was a bit slow for me, I was very taken in by his character. This poor kid, he lives with his detached mother, his abusive stepfather and his jerky older brother. His only friend is Jude and he’s lost and frightened without him. He stutters and does this odd rhyming thing when he speaks, so as you can imagine school is a nightmare for him. On top of all of that, he’s struggling in regards to his mental health and no one seems to care very much. I wanted to take care of this sweet boy and give him the love and affection he deserves, he really got under my skin. Then there’s Rosie whose one wish is to be a mother and when she miscarried, my heart broke. I don’t want to discuss her too much as anything I would say would be a spoiler, but my heart really went out to her.
The setting of the small town of Deer Valley that’s surrounded by a dense forest was a perfect backdrop for the horrors Ahlborn created. From the trees that seemed to whisper secrets to the people who dared to venture into the forest to the animals who seemed otherworldly in a highly disturbing way, the author absolutely nailed the atmosphere of this book. This one is gory and graphic, I was chilled to the bone many times while reading. Have you ever been watching a scary movie and kind of watched with one eye open? That was me reading this. The epilogue was utter perfection, I was petrified and pleased by it, and by now you guys now how much a strong ending means to me. If you’re a mystery/thriller fan who doesn’t mind supernatural elements and graphic descriptions, give this one a chance.
4.5/5
I was a bit skeptical when I first started this one, it was on the slow side and there wasn’t much to be afraid of. I needn’t have worried because as the book progressed, so did the creep factor. This is broken up into three parts; part one is told by Stevie a ten year old boy. His cousin and best friend Jude is missing and he’s frantic with worry. Part two is told from Rosie’s perspective, she’s a young woman living deep in the forest of Deer Valley, Oregon with her husband and she desperately wants a child. Part three is when things really start to get intense and downright horrifying as the storylines merge together.
Even though the pacing for the beginning of Jude’s story was a bit slow for me, I was very taken in by his character. This poor kid, he lives with his detached mother, his abusive stepfather and his jerky older brother. His only friend is Jude and he’s lost and frightened without him. He stutters and does this odd rhyming thing when he speaks, so as you can imagine school is a nightmare for him. On top of all of that, he’s struggling in regards to his mental health and no one seems to care very much. I wanted to take care of this sweet boy and give him the love and affection he deserves, he really got under my skin. Then there’s Rosie whose one wish is to be a mother and when she miscarried, my heart broke. I don’t want to discuss her too much as anything I would say would be a spoiler, but my heart really went out to her.
The setting of the small town of Deer Valley that’s surrounded by a dense forest was a perfect backdrop for the horrors Ahlborn created. From the trees that seemed to whisper secrets to the people who dared to venture into the forest to the animals who seemed otherworldly in a highly disturbing way, the author absolutely nailed the atmosphere of this book. This one is gory and graphic, I was chilled to the bone many times while reading. Have you ever been watching a scary movie and kind of watched with one eye open? That was me reading this. The epilogue was utter perfection, I was petrified and pleased by it, and by now you guys now how much a strong ending means to me. If you’re a mystery/thriller fan who doesn’t mind supernatural elements and graphic descriptions, give this one a chance.
March 19, 2017
'The Devil Crept In' is a horror story which builds slowly into a high intensity thriller! Plan on taking a day, or even better, a dark stormy night to read the novel, with the wind shrieking outside and thunder exploding nearby. If you are very brave and own a pet kitty, hold it in your lap as you read - companionship, right?
What was that noise? Did it come from outside? Why is kitty smiling? Is that a dog howling? Something is scratching at the window? What is...that....thing?
Ten-year-old Stevie Clark has only one friend, his twelve-year-old cousin Jude Brighton. Jude lives in the house across the logging road from Stevie's own home, on the outskirts of the small isolated Oregon town of Deer Valley. Stevie's mom, Nicole Clark, is the sister of Jude's mom, Amanda Brighton. Stevie often feels he loves Aunt Mandy more than his own mom, ever since she married Terry 'The Tyrant' Marks. Stevie's older brother Duncan is terribly mean to Stevie, too, mocking his stutter and showing no compassion or much interest in Stevie. But Jude has been pretty mean on occasion too, ever since his dad Scott died. To tell the truth, no one likes Jude, either. All the boys really have is each other.
After school, they play in the woods. Sometimes they dare each other to visit the strange abandoned house, but it is possible an ugly weird animal lives there, something vicious and dangerous. Stevie saw it, but Stevie sees things that aren't there a lot and he has bad dreams. In fact, this is why Stevie's dad left - he thought Stevie should get psychiatric help, but Mom disagreed. It is possible Stevie has schizophrenia, reader, but he is still a good kid. Through his eyes, we see the tragedy unfold.
At first, when Jude disappeared, all of the adults were frantic, panicking, with no thoughts for Stevie. Stevie was so scared for his missing cousin he wanted desperately to help, but no adult would allow him to help search the woods.
(My spoiler is a little spoiler, explaining a bit more of the story, but I am not revealing what is behind everything in the book, so open if you want to know more. But don't look if you want most of the book to surprise you.)
Stevie is the only person in the story who eventually understands what is happening after he learns more and more about what is going bad with Jude, but no one has patience to listen to him. His speech has weird echoes and stutters, and besides, he is only ten years old. He is the only one who can save his cousin!
I think this book is an older teen/YA read, but an extremely edgy one with gory scenes. The point of view is almost entirely Stevie's (about half way into the book, another character fills in an important backstory), so I felt fidgety and anxious as the book crept up to the denouement of the mystery seen from the eyes of a little kid. Once the mystery begins unraveling, well!
O _ O. My stomach still hasn't unclenched.
I thought it a very good well-written horror story, but some older readers might find the viewpoint of a little kid too frustrating or slow. Author Ania Ahlborn has channeled Stevie wonderfully. I could totally believe I was inside of a ten-year-old character's thoughts. The book is exciting and I couldn't put it down! It was a fast read for me, but if you give the novel a try, pick a day to begin it when you will not be interrupted!
What was that noise? Did it come from outside? Why is kitty smiling? Is that a dog howling? Something is scratching at the window? What is...that....thing?
Ten-year-old Stevie Clark has only one friend, his twelve-year-old cousin Jude Brighton. Jude lives in the house across the logging road from Stevie's own home, on the outskirts of the small isolated Oregon town of Deer Valley. Stevie's mom, Nicole Clark, is the sister of Jude's mom, Amanda Brighton. Stevie often feels he loves Aunt Mandy more than his own mom, ever since she married Terry 'The Tyrant' Marks. Stevie's older brother Duncan is terribly mean to Stevie, too, mocking his stutter and showing no compassion or much interest in Stevie. But Jude has been pretty mean on occasion too, ever since his dad Scott died. To tell the truth, no one likes Jude, either. All the boys really have is each other.
After school, they play in the woods. Sometimes they dare each other to visit the strange abandoned house, but it is possible an ugly weird animal lives there, something vicious and dangerous. Stevie saw it, but Stevie sees things that aren't there a lot and he has bad dreams. In fact, this is why Stevie's dad left - he thought Stevie should get psychiatric help, but Mom disagreed. It is possible Stevie has schizophrenia, reader, but he is still a good kid. Through his eyes, we see the tragedy unfold.
At first, when Jude disappeared, all of the adults were frantic, panicking, with no thoughts for Stevie. Stevie was so scared for his missing cousin he wanted desperately to help, but no adult would allow him to help search the woods.
(My spoiler is a little spoiler, explaining a bit more of the story, but I am not revealing what is behind everything in the book, so open if you want to know more. But don't look if you want most of the book to surprise you.)
Stevie is the only person in the story who eventually understands what is happening after he learns more and more about what is going bad with Jude, but no one has patience to listen to him. His speech has weird echoes and stutters, and besides, he is only ten years old. He is the only one who can save his cousin!
I think this book is an older teen/YA read, but an extremely edgy one with gory scenes. The point of view is almost entirely Stevie's (about half way into the book, another character fills in an important backstory), so I felt fidgety and anxious as the book crept up to the denouement of the mystery seen from the eyes of a little kid. Once the mystery begins unraveling, well!
O _ O. My stomach still hasn't unclenched.
I thought it a very good well-written horror story, but some older readers might find the viewpoint of a little kid too frustrating or slow. Author Ania Ahlborn has channeled Stevie wonderfully. I could totally believe I was inside of a ten-year-old character's thoughts. The book is exciting and I couldn't put it down! It was a fast read for me, but if you give the novel a try, pick a day to begin it when you will not be interrupted!
July 6, 2017
The Devil Crept In is the second novel I've read by Ania Ahlborn. After having enjoyed Brother I was anxious to see if Ahlborn would thrill me with another read. The Devil Crept In did not disappoint but is definitely not for the faint of heart. If you're not into horror, blood, guts and things that go bump in the night stay far far away.
Ania Ahlborn introduces us to a Stevie Clark who is called into action when his best friend, and cousin Jude, goes missing. Stevie's world is turned upside down with this disappearance because Jude is his only friend. Stevie is an outcast due to an accident that left him a few fingers short and his struggle with echolalia. To add insult to injury he frequently has nightmares and often doesn't trust his own mind. Piling on all that sits his mother's abusive boyfriend. To say life is not easy for Stevie is the understatement of the century.
Although Jude isn't always nice to him, he's the one person he loves with an almost obsessive devotion. The death of Jude's father is to blame for a lot of Jude's rebellion. What happens to Jude after having been kidnapped is a whole nother thing...
On the other side of town, beyond the forest, sits a home that harbors a horror no one in this small town could ever imagine. A horror that could possibly be the reason there are no pets in town, or the reason for a child Jude's age disappeared years earlier. Something's going bump in the night and we get to find out what.
The Devil Crept In is a quick read, fast paced, and yet very well written. Ahlborn is descriptive and paints a vivid picture for readers. This attention to detail proves her brilliance in a genre that can often rely solely on blood and gore instead of character depth. Ahlborn delivers both.
Yes! It's no secret that I enjoyed Ahlborn's latest thrill fest but I did have my issues. Much of The Devil Crept In, or at least after the introduction of the monster, had me scratching my head because there was an odd connection between the trapper and the trapped that just seemed too easy to dismiss as a case of sacrificial offering. I hope that didn't give too much away, but these instances felt like a stretch.
I guess the scratching didn't do enough to keep me from charging ahead. The hope that this would be explained was what kept me going... along with my interest in the story (of course). So... I made it through and all my questions were answered yet I still feel a little duped.
So why give it a 4-star rating still? Because she had me there. Ania Ahlborn fed me a story that I could not get enough of. Some would be a little disappointed and rightfully so. I almost felt the Epilogue needed an Epilogue... but seriously. I enjoyed every page of this book. Even though the ending was a little infuriating, I admit. When I wasn't reading this novel, I was thinking about it.
That's gotta count for something, right? Yes. In my mind it does. I can't wait to read more by Ania Ahlborn. The Devil Crept In firmly placed this author on my favorites list.
Copy provided by Simon & Schuster via Netgalley
Ania Ahlborn introduces us to a Stevie Clark who is called into action when his best friend, and cousin Jude, goes missing. Stevie's world is turned upside down with this disappearance because Jude is his only friend. Stevie is an outcast due to an accident that left him a few fingers short and his struggle with echolalia. To add insult to injury he frequently has nightmares and often doesn't trust his own mind. Piling on all that sits his mother's abusive boyfriend. To say life is not easy for Stevie is the understatement of the century.
Although Jude isn't always nice to him, he's the one person he loves with an almost obsessive devotion. The death of Jude's father is to blame for a lot of Jude's rebellion. What happens to Jude after having been kidnapped is a whole nother thing...
On the other side of town, beyond the forest, sits a home that harbors a horror no one in this small town could ever imagine. A horror that could possibly be the reason there are no pets in town, or the reason for a child Jude's age disappeared years earlier. Something's going bump in the night and we get to find out what.
The Devil Crept In is a quick read, fast paced, and yet very well written. Ahlborn is descriptive and paints a vivid picture for readers. This attention to detail proves her brilliance in a genre that can often rely solely on blood and gore instead of character depth. Ahlborn delivers both.
Yes! It's no secret that I enjoyed Ahlborn's latest thrill fest but I did have my issues. Much of The Devil Crept In, or at least after the introduction of the monster, had me scratching my head because there was an odd connection between the trapper and the trapped that just seemed too easy to dismiss as a case of sacrificial offering. I hope that didn't give too much away, but these instances felt like a stretch.
I guess the scratching didn't do enough to keep me from charging ahead. The hope that this would be explained was what kept me going... along with my interest in the story (of course). So... I made it through and all my questions were answered yet I still feel a little duped.
So why give it a 4-star rating still? Because she had me there. Ania Ahlborn fed me a story that I could not get enough of. Some would be a little disappointed and rightfully so. I almost felt the Epilogue needed an Epilogue... but seriously. I enjoyed every page of this book. Even though the ending was a little infuriating, I admit. When I wasn't reading this novel, I was thinking about it.
That's gotta count for something, right? Yes. In my mind it does. I can't wait to read more by Ania Ahlborn. The Devil Crept In firmly placed this author on my favorites list.
Copy provided by Simon & Schuster via Netgalley
March 9, 2017
This was my first time reading a book by Ania Ahlborn, and it won't be my last! I thought her writing was spectacular. The most impressive part for me was having a ten year old main character whose voice was believable, sympathetic, and realistic. I felt for him and rooted for him the whole time. Never once did he annoy me (and I'd probably say that I annoy pretty easily when it comes to kids in books, LOL). A lot of authors just don't do the "voice" of children very well. I felt like Stevie's voice was authentic, right down to his speech impediment.
I thought the suspense built up really well. When the plot perspective changes to Rosamund, things got very creepy. I thought the transition to this part of the book flowed smoothly and liked how the timeline jumped from the past to the present until it was caught up; as Rosie's situation got more extreme, the stakes in the present increased and it was a great way to build up the conflict.
I thought the ending was satisfying in many ways, most notably that and I liked that
A great horror tale and I'll definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a page-turner!
I thought the suspense built up really well. When the plot perspective changes to Rosamund, things got very creepy. I thought the transition to this part of the book flowed smoothly and liked how the timeline jumped from the past to the present until it was caught up; as Rosie's situation got more extreme, the stakes in the present increased and it was a great way to build up the conflict.
I thought the ending was satisfying in many ways, most notably that and I liked that
A great horror tale and I'll definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a page-turner!
October 13, 2019
Loved "Within These Walls" but not this one. The characters were annoying: the boy with the speech tics which quickly become tiresome,, the mean stepfather with the mullet, the demon, or whatever he was, in a Grateful Dead tee shirt and all three of the emotionally damaged adult women. I found the prose in "Within These Walls" elegant for a horror novel; not so in "The Devil Crept In." It was plodding and repetitive and the book never really took off, the elements didn't come together and the book was neither scary nor suspenseful. I will read more of this author but this one just didn't work for me, didn't interest me and didn't entertain me.
December 28, 2016
I am a big fan of Ania Ahlborn. She has been consistently good since her debut novel Seed. The Devil Crept In is no exception. There were some truly excellent and unique characterizations here, as well as, a trademark Ahlborn ending, which fit the story perfectly. I highly recommend anything that she puts out there. 4+ Stars!
April 16, 2017
THE DEVIL CREPT IN is a creepy story about a young boy who discovers that there is something or someone hiding out in the woods in a rundown house. Or is it really so? Stevie Clark has been plagued with awful visions for years, seeing things that aren't there. Could the thing he saw be just a fragment of his imagination? But when his cousin Jude goes missing, Stevie is convinced that what he saw is real and that perhaps the thing has something to do with Jude's disappearance. Years ago a little boy, Max Larsen, disappeared and never returned, and the pets of the town of Deer Valley seem to disappear as well. Stevie doesn't know what to believe, could there really be a monster in the woods?
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
October 29, 2017
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway but have only promised an honest review.
Although this is not my usual fare, I do try to read horror from time to time to keep an eye on the genre and get a bit of a thrill, especially in October. I did not know this author, but once the book arrived, I started seeing reviews of an earlier title, The Shuddering.
One thing that appealed to me in the description is the location -Deer Creek is an imaginary rural community in the woods of Oregon. Some of the action happens 30 miles from McMinnville, Oregon, and some of it specifically takes place north of there. I grew up roughly 27 miles northeast of McMinnville, in the woods, so suffice to say this is MY territory and it is easy for me to picture places where evil could linger unprotested in the forest.
While some horror is atmospheric, implied, and the events occur off-stage, Ahlborn writes blood and guts, visceral events, and true evil. So, well, consider yourself warned. There are two stories in the book that alternate, in two different fonts. In one, Stevie's friend and cousin Jude disappears, and Stevie starts encountering potential evil in trying to find him. But because he has a speech impediment (one that may be more indicative of mental distress than anything else) and previous injuries, nobody listens to him. In the other story, Rosie, a woman married to a German, suffers a few tragedies back to back and finds herself in an impossible situation. I don't want to say much more than that because the shiver potential of this book goes up the less you know.
Although this is not my usual fare, I do try to read horror from time to time to keep an eye on the genre and get a bit of a thrill, especially in October. I did not know this author, but once the book arrived, I started seeing reviews of an earlier title, The Shuddering.
One thing that appealed to me in the description is the location -Deer Creek is an imaginary rural community in the woods of Oregon. Some of the action happens 30 miles from McMinnville, Oregon, and some of it specifically takes place north of there. I grew up roughly 27 miles northeast of McMinnville, in the woods, so suffice to say this is MY territory and it is easy for me to picture places where evil could linger unprotested in the forest.
While some horror is atmospheric, implied, and the events occur off-stage, Ahlborn writes blood and guts, visceral events, and true evil. So, well, consider yourself warned. There are two stories in the book that alternate, in two different fonts. In one, Stevie's friend and cousin Jude disappears, and Stevie starts encountering potential evil in trying to find him. But because he has a speech impediment (one that may be more indicative of mental distress than anything else) and previous injuries, nobody listens to him. In the other story, Rosie, a woman married to a German, suffers a few tragedies back to back and finds herself in an impossible situation. I don't want to say much more than that because the shiver potential of this book goes up the less you know.
February 25, 2017
I have loved Ania Ahlborn since I first read The Bird Eater and have since read everything that she has published. Although I have liked some books better than others, I can't say that she has written anything that I didn't enjoy; I don't actually think she's capable of that. Ania has a style that is hard to pin down, but you know the moment you pick up one of her books that it's hers and that this is what you need to be reading. The Devil Crept In is a book that you need to be reading.
Stevie Clark is a 10 year old with an odd speech tic and not a lot going for him. Jude Brighton is Stevie's cousin, best friend, and the center of Stevie's world. When Jude suddenly goes missing, Stevie's life comes to a standstill. Jude being gone is not an option. The more time that passes, the more urgently Stevie knows it is that he finds him. The rumors, the murmuring around town about the Larsen kid, the missing pets, something still out there... Sometimes the truth is worse than your nightmares and a lot whole harder to wake up from.
Hey Jude... where are you?
The Devil Crept In is my favorite book of Ania's since Seed, which has stayed with me since I first read it several years ago. The same building tension. The same creep factor. And I know that a book has gotten into my head when I find myself mentally rhyming words in the same cadence as the main character. Oops. I won't likely be forgetting this one any time soon and will, as always, be impatiently awaiting her next book. Thanks for another great read, Ania.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is it.
Stevie Clark is a 10 year old with an odd speech tic and not a lot going for him. Jude Brighton is Stevie's cousin, best friend, and the center of Stevie's world. When Jude suddenly goes missing, Stevie's life comes to a standstill. Jude being gone is not an option. The more time that passes, the more urgently Stevie knows it is that he finds him. The rumors, the murmuring around town about the Larsen kid, the missing pets, something still out there... Sometimes the truth is worse than your nightmares and a lot whole harder to wake up from.
Hey Jude... where are you?
The Devil Crept In is my favorite book of Ania's since Seed, which has stayed with me since I first read it several years ago. The same building tension. The same creep factor. And I know that a book has gotten into my head when I find myself mentally rhyming words in the same cadence as the main character. Oops. I won't likely be forgetting this one any time soon and will, as always, be impatiently awaiting her next book. Thanks for another great read, Ania.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is it.
June 27, 2017
meh.... thats my reaction to this book ... i mean it was engaging and the point of view of a 10 year old as a main protagonist is innovative , but at the end i just cannot help but feel that i wasn't satisfied by the ending ... it left a lot of unexplained questions and once you finish the book and look at the plot from the outside in you notice that it just wasn't that interesting ....it was too simple to make sense and i feel like the gory scenes were put there by the author just to spice the book up .... i mean this would a great B grade horror movie (the one you seen on national tv) , it just wasn't a goo book ...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,323 reviews