I discovered a fairy tale based, horror story with a crazed serial killer and a remote setting. Of course it found its way onto my reading list! What did I think of Grimm Woods by D. Melhoff? Read my thoughts--and enter to win a copy in the book tour giveaway at the end of the post!
I received a complimentary ebook copy of this book for use in my review. All opinions are my own.
Quick Summary of Grimm Woods. A remote summer camp becomes a lurid crime scene when the bodies of two teenagers are found in a bloody, real-life rendering of a classic Grimm's fairy tale. Trapped in the wilderness, the remaining counselors must follow a trail of dark children's fables in order to outwit a psychopath and save the dwindling survivors before falling prey to their own gruesome endings.
Drawing on the grisly, uncensored details of history’s most famous fairy tales, Grimm Woods is a heart-pounding thriller about a deranged killer who uses traditional children’s stories as tropes in elaborate murders. Set against the backdrop of modern-day Michigan, it’s a journey through the mind of a dangerous zealot and a shocking glimpse into the bedtime stories you thought you knew.
Grimm Woods is not the typical, predictable thriller. At first, I wondered how "original" a story about a serial killer stalking summer camp counselors in an isolated woods could be. D. Melhoff surprised me with the fairy tale element. I was never a fan of fairy tales anyway--and, apparently my reserve was with good reason. Readers will find themselves taking some unexpected twists and turns throughout the book. Readers will also find that nothing is "safe" from darkness--from our childhood bedtime story memories to the characters of this book. Grimm Woods took the same old same old, "summer camp horror" theme and created something just a little different for readers.
Grimm Woods is not for the prim and proper. This book is filled with sex, drugs, violence, gore and darkness. Yet, none of those elements are presented for simple shock value--they all have a place in the story. Readers will find some of the elements disturbing at times--because they are supposed to be disturbing. I am not a fan of books loaded with language and graphic sex when they are misplaced or seem out of context. These things fit the setting and story line of this novel--but, if you prefer not to read those things; then this book may not be for you. Even though these things are usually not as prominent in my favorite books--I wasn't able to put this book down from start to finish.
Would I recommend Grimm Woods by D. Melhoff? I was drawn to the characters of this book from the first few pages. I didn't necessarily like many of them--but, they were complicated in each of their own rights. I loved that the author took away my safety nets with twists and turns and unexpected victims and outcomes. Even if I didn't like a particular outcome--I liked the fact that the author made it real--and didn't give us those predictable, happy endings that we often find. If you enjoy horror and psychological thrillers--and can handle the gore and adult themes--this book is right up your alley.
Grimm Woods is not the typical, predictable thriller. At first, I wondered how "original" a story about a serial killer stalking summer camp counselors in an isolated woods could be. D. Melhoff surprised me with the fairy tale element. I was never a fan of fairy tales anyway--and, apparently my reserve was with good reason. Readers will find themselves taking some unexpected twists and turns throughout the book. Readers will also find that nothing is "safe" from darkness--from our childhood bedtime story memories to the characters of this book. Grimm Woods took the same old same old, "summer camp horror" theme and created something just a little different for readers.
Grimm Woods is not for the prim and proper. This book is filled with sex, drugs, violence, gore and darkness. Yet, none of those elements are presented for simple shock value--they all have a place in the story. Readers will find some of the elements disturbing at times--because they are supposed to be disturbing. I am not a fan of books loaded with language and graphic sex when they are misplaced or seem out of context. These things fit the setting and story line of this novel--but, if you prefer not to read those things; then this book may not be for you. Even though these things are usually not as prominent in my favorite books--I wasn't able to put this book down from start to finish.
Would I recommend Grimm Woods by D. Melhoff? I was drawn to the characters of this book from the first few pages. I didn't necessarily like many of them--but, they were complicated in each of their own rights. I loved that the author took away my safety nets with twists and turns and unexpected victims and outcomes. Even if I didn't like a particular outcome--I liked the fact that the author made it real--and didn't give us those predictable, happy endings that we often find. If you enjoy horror and psychological thrillers--and can handle the gore and adult themes--this book is right up your alley.
Buy the Book: Amazon
Meet the Author:
He credits King, Poe, Hitchcock, Harris, Stoker, and his second grade school teacher, Mrs. Lake, for turning him to horror.
For more information, visit www.dmelhoff.com.
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1 Comments
My favorite fairy tale is Beauty & the Beast.
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