Crossroads [Kindle Edition]

Chandler McGrew (Author)

Book Description

Sheila Bright talks to the dead including the ghost of her mother who wants to move to California. Kira Graves can produce money out of thin air. The two of them, Shape Shifters, Pookas, Lost Boys and more all inhabit the Crossroads, where good and evil collide.

When Kira's family and everyone else in their carnival are murdered by unearthly creatures called Grigs, Kira and her constant  companion, Jen, flee toward a half-mythical place of safety called Graves Island, but they fail to reach it when Kira is drawn through the looking glass to another world. The planet of the Creators is swiftly deteriorating from a world of dreams into one of nightmares, and the only way to stop the Empty-Eyed Man from turning the entire universe into chaos is for Kira to destroy the tool he most desires, but what she must sacrifice to do so may be worth more to her than the prize.

Previously by Chandler McGrew, Cold Heart:
"'The best opening 10 pages I've read this year...reads like a good martini tastes: icy cold, with flecks of terror where the ice chips should be." - Contra Costa Times
"'An engrossing reading experience." - Midwest Book Review
"Incredible tension and suspense... get a copy soon." - Mystery News

Night Terror:

"...plays on the primal fears that cause most adults to lose sleep. An author to watch and read." - Denver Post
"In the small-town Maine that Stephen King has made famous, Chandler McGrew sets a new tale of terror." - Forbes Book Club

The Darkening:

"...cleverly written in a spiritual style that calls to mind Dean Koontz's recent (and better) works... an exciting delight - a trip into realms some feared would never be explored again. " - Thebestreviews.com
"addictive...one part Rapture drama, one part Lovecraftian horror story, one part blood-soaked chase... a thrilling one-sit read." - Publisher's Weekly

In Shadows:

"Chandler McGrew (is) showing us how to scare the pants off readers with his latest paperback original..." - The Chicago Tribune
"...a born-to-be-a-TV-series story about a 13-year-old blind and deaf boy who can hear evil spirits, and a police officer who gets dragged back from Texas to his Maine roots by a force stronger than life." - Chicago Tribune
"In Shadows is actually a finely woven tale of terror-and one of love as well." - Fangoria

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Crossroads sort of took me unawares. I had wanted to write a story about carneys for some time, but just couldn't seem to come up with an idea. Finally, as I often do, I just started with a character I liked, then another, and put them both into a whole hell of a lot of trouble. Although most all of my books contain supernatural elements, some a lot more than simply elements, I decided early on to allow my imagination free reign with this one. I hope you enjoy.

About the Author

Although he is the author of four critically acclaimed supernatural/suspense thrillers, Chandler McGrew, lives in quiet seclusion in the mountains of Maine. He writes ten to twelve hours a day, fueled by liberal doses of coffee and Pepsi, with only an occasional dollop of single malt scotch to take the edge off.

Cold Heart, is set. I Love a Mystery called the book a 'tense and satisfying read.' While the Contra Costa Times said it was 'The best opening 10 pages I've read this year...reads like a good martini tastes: icy cold, with flecks of terror where the ice chips should be.'
Chandler followed Cold Heart with Night Terror, a psychological thriller about a woman who has lost her only son and believes she may be losing her mind as well. Like all his novels the book is peopled by characters who might be your next door neighbor. Or they might be escapees from a boobie hatch. The Denver Post said the novel '...plays on the primal fears that cause most adults to lose sleep.'

The Darkening, his third book, is a dark, apocalyptic thriller in which two very different individuals must not only find each other but themselves as well before discovering the path that will lead them to salvation. Publisher's Weekly, the industry standard, said of the book that it was an "addictive...one part Rapture drama, one part Lovecraftian horror story, one part blood-soaked chase... a thrilling one-sit read."
Which brings us to In Shadows, McGrew's latest which the Chicago Tribune called "...a born-to-be-a-TV-series story."
McGrew has the uncanny knack for touching readers and frightening the bejeesus out of them at the same time.

Product Details

• File Size: 540 KB
• Print Length: 306 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008NWBAH4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,777 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An epic fantasy thriller ... September 14, 2012

By C.L.Davies

Format:Kindle Edition

Crossroads wastes no time in telling its story, opening with intrigue, foreboding, and a tragic turn of events, instantly endearing the reader to the main character, Kira. After mere pages, I really felt for Kira and Jen, and journeying with them through the book, was wishing for their happy ending. In fact, all the characters are likeable, each having depth and distinct personality.

McGrew begins by building the tension one tingle at a time, until before you know it your entire spine reverberates with the momentum of suspense, and you have bitten all your fingernails to the quick. Supernatural and mysterious elements are interwoven into the fabric of the story at first subtly, and almost casually, as to make them entirely believable. Just over halfway, I was captivated by the once-paradisiacal Otherworld, where, alongside untold horrors, the Whinegrass sings when danced upon, and the Lost take millennia to age.

Initially, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the razor-toothed Grigs, with their likening to `black beach balls' - but I certainly wouldn't want to meet one in a dark alley, their malevolence gaining momentum with the story. Whilst Crossroads does contain some moments of horror, in the Grigs, and Kira's monster creations, they are never gratuitous. At its heart it's an epic fantasy thriller.

The novel is consistently fast-paced, and scattered with frankly beautiful writing. The plot is unpredictable and full of surprises - in the opening chapters, a revelation concerning Jen floored me, as did Kira's sudden transportation into Otherworld. The only disappointment in the entire book, for me, was that Kira didn't spend more time with her grandfather at the end - but that's the sentimentalist in me. Besides telling an awesome tale, Crossroads also sheds an insightful light upon our materialistic culture, via Kira in her consideration of the `towners.'

I enjoyed every moment of Crossroads, and couldn't turn the pages fast enough, sacrificing sleep just to read more. I downright loved this novel, so much so that McGrew easily earns, in my opinion, exaltation to Master of the Genre - right up there with King and Koontz. What more can I say? Crossroads is truly a brilliant book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Chandlier McGrew Does It Again! August 15, 2012

By Corky

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't usually read fiction much anymore, not like I used to in my younger days, but since I sort-of know the author from an old Internet forum, I naturally have to give his books a read.

Well, he did it again...he topped his own previous books - again. "Crossroads" is up there among the very best in this genre. If you like fantasy thrillers, this is the book for you. Kind of like Stephen King or Dean Koontz but faster paced and once you start reading you can't put it down, not even if you get all blurry-eyed (like I do) from reading too much. Yeah, it's that good.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Uber scary read!!! November 7, 2012

By Brandy C

Format:Kindle Edition

I already knew that Chandler McGrew was a talented writer after I read his other work, The Remnant. So I didn't expect to be disappointed with reading Crossroads, and I wasn't.

I may have to take a break from paranormal books after reading this one. It really left me on the edge of my seat and literally shaking with anxiety. Chandler sucks you into the world of Sheila and Kira as if you are standing right there with them. Seriously, the Empty-Eyed Man was completely frightening!!

Chandler McGrew is a master of the arts. He is right up there alongside Stephen King and Dean Koontz as my top scary writers. Crossroads was hard to finish. But in a good way. I didn't want this amazing tale to be over because of how scary/awesome/really cool it was. PLEASE go read this, you will not be let down.

More About the Author

Although he is the author of four critically acclaimed supernatural/suspense thrillers, Chandler McGrew, lives in quiet seclusion in the mountains of Maine. He writes ten to twelve hours a day, fueled by liberal doses of coffee and Pepsi, with only an occasional dollop of single malt scotch to take the edge off.

Born in Texas he lived for almost a decade in Alaska where his first novel, Cold Heart, is set. I Love a Mystery called the book a 'tense and satisfying read.' While the Contra Costa Times said it was 'The best opening 10 pages I've read this year...reads like a good martini tastes: icy cold, with flecks of terror where the ice chips should be.'

Not a bad start for a man who didn't begin to write professionally until he was in his forties.

Chandler followed Cold Heart with Night Terror, a psychological thriller about a woman who has lost her only son and believes she may be losing her mind as well. Like all his novels the book is peopled by characters who might be your next door neighbor. Or they might be escapees from a boobie hatch. The Denver Post said the novel '...plays on the primal fears that cause most adults to lose sleep.'

That's an adequate description of all of Chandler's work.

The Darkening, his third book, is a dark, apocalyptic thriller in which two very different individuals must not only find each other but themselves as well before discovering the path that will lead them to salvation. Publisher's Weekly, the industry standard, said of the book that it was an "addictive...one part Rapture drama, one part Lovecraftian horror story, one part blood-soaked chase... a thrilling one-sit read."

Which brings us to In Shadows, McGrew's latest which the Chicago Tribune called "...a born-to-be-a-TV-series story."

McGrew has the uncanny knack for touching readers and frightening the bejeesus out of them at the same time.