REVIEW: Little Heaven by Nick Cutter @gallerybooks @thenickcutter
Little Heaven
by Nick Cutter
Gallery Books
🔥 AVAILABLE NOW 🔥
An all-new epic tale of terror and redemption set in the hinterlands of midcentury New Mexico from the acclaimed author of The Troop—which Stephen King raved “scared the hell out of me and I couldn’t put it down...old-school horror at its best.”
From electrifying horror author Nick Cutter comes a haunting new novel, reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridianand Stephen King’s It, in which a trio of mismatched mercenaries is hired by a young woman for a deceptively simple task: check in on her nephew, who may have been taken against his will to a remote New Mexico backwoods settlement called Little Heaven. Shortly after they arrive, things begin to turn ominous. Stirrings in the woods and over the treetops—the brooding shape of a monolith known as the Black Rock casts its terrible pall. Paranoia and distrust grips the settlement. The escape routes are gradually cut off as events spiral towards madness. Hell—or the closest thing to it—invades Little Heaven. The remaining occupants are forced to take a stand and fight back, but whatever has cast its dark eye on Little Heaven is now marshaling its powers...and it wants them all.
From electrifying horror author Nick Cutter comes a haunting new novel, reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridianand Stephen King’s It, in which a trio of mismatched mercenaries is hired by a young woman for a deceptively simple task: check in on her nephew, who may have been taken against his will to a remote New Mexico backwoods settlement called Little Heaven. Shortly after they arrive, things begin to turn ominous. Stirrings in the woods and over the treetops—the brooding shape of a monolith known as the Black Rock casts its terrible pall. Paranoia and distrust grips the settlement. The escape routes are gradually cut off as events spiral towards madness. Hell—or the closest thing to it—invades Little Heaven. The remaining occupants are forced to take a stand and fight back, but whatever has cast its dark eye on Little Heaven is now marshaling its powers...and it wants them all.
Review:
Meet Minerva, Ebenezer and Micah. Doing a favor for Ellen, to take her to her nephew who seems to have disappeared to a place called Little Heaven. Enter Cutter to weave this horror tale for you.
Opening was great - Cutter has such a way with detailing that leaves you cringing and I'm fairly certain my face IS going to freeze like that after 486 pages. He's especially good at detailing insects and critters in a way that keeps my skin crawling for days after putting down one of his novels. I think if you've read The Troop then you can certainly agree. Then we meet the main characters and it's a bit of a slow burn as we get to know each of them intimately. Didn't bother this girl none, I enjoyed the weirdness of each character - but I was a tad bit confused from the horror prologue to what almost seemingly had a supernatural western feel for a bit. But again, CUTTER.
Then wham bam I'm gonna fuck you up, ma'am. While I didn't feel necessarily scared while reading the book, I certainly did get the creepy crawlies. He hit upon so many of your typical horror tropes while snazzing it up in the Cutter style only he can produce. (And anyone who references Shasta is a winner in my book.) We have creepy kids, cult and religious fanaticism. I especially loved the nod to the Pied Piper of Hamelin. PROPER. And everyone knows by now to be careful what you wish for... don't we?
I'm deliciously creeped out and so happy to be back to my first love, horror, with one of my favorite horror writers. Why dock a star? Because I felt it was just a tad longer than it needed to be. I would've been happy without the epilogue... or a few pages here and there that became over detailed for my taste. Then again, I have the same issue with King books here and there, but this is just my own particular preference.
In any case, this book is definitely not for everyone - but none of his books are. Love it, hate it, whatever the case.. you will be creeped out and again, just reaffirms why I'm so happy not to have children.
Now.... Shall we begin?
★★★★
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