Review: Isolation by Travis Thrasher + BBAW Giveaway

About the Book: Trapped

Exhausted

Terrified

. . . Alone

When a missionary family moves into a secluded mansion in the mountains of North Carolina, they think they are escaping their nightmares. But when a snowstorm hits and they are trapped inside their new home, their worst fears become reality. As they fight to stay alive, they will be tested in ways they never imagined. Can their love for one another and their faith in God save them from the dangers lurking here?

A masterfully written story that will grip you from its mysterious beginning to its chilling end.

From Publishers Weekly:

"In this dark chiller, Thrasher (Sky Blue; The Promise Remains) demonstrates a considerable talent for the horror genre. Like Stephen King, Thrasher pits flawed but likable characters against evil forces that at first seem escapable but gradually take on a terrifying ubiquity.

The Miller family has recently returned to suburban Chicago after a harrowing experience on the mission field. Hoping to get away from the busyness of suburban living, they travel to the mountains of North Carolina for an extended stay in an enormous, remote lodge where husband and father Jim plans to write a book while trying to reconnect with his family.

When a snowstorm isolates them further and spiritual attacks make them feel they are losing their minds, both Jim and his wife, Stephanie, begin to wonder if God can rescue them and their two young children. Aside from sharing too many plot points with The Shining, this novel hits very few false notes and should appeal to fans of Christian fiction, the horror genre and all who enjoy well-crafted and suspenseful stories."

My Review: The last few days of last week were gray and overcast, perfect for reading a spine-tingling book. When the sun is glaring at me, it's hard to get in the spooky mood, know what I'm sayin?

This book is very creepy. Thrasher does a great job of setting the mood...our characters are sort of at the end of their sanity, exhausted, bone weary, and feeling very alone. Something happened while they were living in Papau New Guinea as missionaries that has shaken their faith to the core. Jim decides they need to get away from the busyness of life and head to a mansion in North Carolina.

Bits and pieces of the characters past are revealed and we are treated to multiple viewpoints. The house has secrets and forbidden areas, but slowly each family member begins to discover these things on their own.

This book is very heavily about the spiritual realm--as in demons--so if you are sensitive to this kind of topic, you might want to steer clear. Even with the ending there are still quite a few unanswered questions, but the book is truly a page turner and fantastically creepy!
Check out Isolation on Amazon.

Giveaway: This being BBAW and all, I have 2 copies of this book to give away. You need a United States or Canadian address for this one, no PO Boxes. To enter, leave a comment with a valid email address telling me your favorite scary book (I like to read them this time of year!). This giveaway will close on Friday.