Bestial (Leisure Fiction) [Mass Market Paperback]

Ray Garton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Leisure Fiction | Publication Date: April 2009

Something very strange is happening in the coastal California town of Big Rock.  Several residents have died in unexplained, particularly brutal ways, many torn apart in animal attacks. You might think there’s a werewolf in town.  But you’d be wrong.  It’s not just one werewolf, but the whole town that’s gradually transforming.Bit by bit, as the infection spreads, the werewolves are becoming more and more powerful.  In fact, humans may soon be the minority, mere prey for their hungry neighbors.  Is it too late for the humans to fight back?  Did they ever have a chance from the start?

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Ray Garton is, and always has been, one of horror fiction’s great innovators.” —F. Paul Wilson

"Garton has a flair for taking veteran horror themes and twisting them to evocative or entertaining effect." —Publishers Weekly

 

“Ray Garton has consistently created some of the best horror ever set to print.” —Cemetery Dance

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

Ray Garton, a HUGE name in horror in the 1980s, has returned, to the delight of fans both old and newHis recent novels were published by Pinnacle, Avon, Pocket Books, and Bantam. Bestial was originally published by Dorchester in mass market in 2009. It was his 5th novel with Dorchester.

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Leisure Books; Original edition (April 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843961856
• ISBN-13: 978-0843961850
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #886,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Werewolf-ville, April 12, 2009

By 

mrliteral - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Bestial (Leisure Fiction) (Mass Market Paperback)

Although Bestial is a direct sequel to Ray Garton's Ravenous, it is also an indirect sequel to other books of his, including Night Life and Live Girls (I believe; I haven't actually read those books). As a Ravenous sequel, it focuses on werewolves, one of those popular monsters that are forced to live in the shadow of vampires (figuratively, of course, since many vampires don't actually cast shadows) and since it is a follow-up book, you should not really read Bestial unless you've read Ravenous first.

Bestial takes the reader back to the isolated California town of Big Rock, where the werewolves have taken over. Yes, there are still plenty of unaffected humans, but they are often prey for the lycanthropes, who spread their "disease" through sex. Leading the pack is Sheriff Taggart, who intends to create his own little kingdom. And while the werewolves are nasty enough, Taggart is also interested in the next stage of werewolf evolution, namely the babies being born from werewolf fathers. These babies are monsters from the start (which will remind some readers of the `70s movie, It's Alive).

There is opposition, however, including a couple of "good" werewolves. Principally, however, the good guys are Gavin Keoph and Karen Moffett, a couple of returning Garton characters. These two private eyes are employed by horror writer Martin Burgess to do some research into Big Rock. Previously, when Burgess hired them, they had nasty encounters with vampires, so they are a little reluctant (but not very skeptical) when it comes to looking into werewolves. Even armed to the teeth with silver weapons, they face the real threat of getting in over their heads with Taggart and company.

As a side note, if you're a Seventh Day Adventist, you will not like this book. Garton, a former member of this group, has very little in the way of good things to say about this religion, which plays a prominent part in the story. I wasn't offended, but others might be.

Bestial is a good book, with interesting characters brightening a standard sort of plot. There are no real flaws with it, but it also doesn't have the stand-out quality that makes it a great book. It may not be on your all-time top ten list, but if you like horror, you should enjoy this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bestial, what a werewolf experience!, May 14, 2009

By 

K. Bloom "ilovebooks" (Boise, Idaho United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bestial (Leisure Fiction) (Mass Market Paperback)

Finished reading Ravenous a month ago and had to read the second in the series. I simply could not put this one down. It is even better than Ravenous and that is saying a lot! Highly recommend these two books if you like monsters and gore. Ray Garton is becoming one of my favorite authors!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Garton Thrills Again, April 11, 2009

By 

Shroud Magazine's Book Reviews (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Bestial (Leisure Fiction) (Mass Market Paperback)

"Bestial" moves at a blistering pace. Where "Ravenous" succeeded by instilling a creeping sense of horror, "Bestial" triumphs in its intrigue as the werewolves spread their influence throughout Big Rock. The humans aren't toothless in this installment, however, as surprise guests from another Garton novel make an appearance. Private investigators Gavin Keoph and Karen Moffet have been hired to investigate the strange events in Big Rock, and they're packing loads of silver.

Since the werewolves' first strike, they've moderated their virulent spread. Slowly, they've worked their way through town, planting their roots. Next up is a large Seventh Day Adventist Church. Through it, the werewolves hope to strengthen their position.

Numerous unexplained "animal attacks" haven't escaped outside notice, however. Successful horror novelist Martin Burgess - always interested in the occult - is convinced something is amiss in Big Rock. He hires Gavin and Karen to investigate. They've been through territory like this before, however, (with an entirely different nocturnal, sub-human species), and they both bear scars from Burgess' miscalculations. Both wonder if Burgess has miscalculated again, and if this time their lives will be the payment.

They're right to wonder. A horrifying change has come to the werewolves. They're evolving, becoming something new. Better. Perfect. All the silver in the world may be useless, and it's very likely that Gavin and Karen's scars may be mere scratches compared to what they'll endure this round.

"Bestial" is a gripping follow-up to "Ravenous", primarily because it invokes an entirely different set of emotions. That's what makes for a truly successful series: installments that build, rather than rehash themes. "Ravenous" throbs with tragedy as jaded, disconnected, abused and naive townspeople spread the werewolf virus all by themselves. In "Bestial", there's not only the sense of impending comeuppance, but also the revelation the werewolf virus isn't necessarily the curse it seems. Even though there's more closure here, Garton still leaves trailing threads, hinting at an explosive confrontation in the next installment.