Devoured (Cold Grove Trilogy) [Kindle Edition]

S.R. Everett (Author)

Book Description

Andy Bellamy is a man who suffers with the memories of a disturbing childhood. The crowning jewel of which was his father’s insanity-fueled rampages. He’s worked hard to forget his painful childhood and build a peaceful life, complete with a loving wife. That life is shattered when his wife suddenly disappears, seemingly without a trace. In a small community like Cold Grove, everyone knows about his past and all eyes turn towards him. Convinced she is dead and desperate for answers, he unearths the town’s darkest secret: a demonic creature with an insatiable hunger for rotting flesh. But is it real or is it just the monster within?

The town in plunged into utter chaos as the body count begins to rise. With time working against him and only a jumble of confusing clues to go on, it’s up to Sheriff John Ingle to piece together the puzzle and put an end to the rampage. But, will he be able to accept the awful truth in time to save the town? Could it really be that the unnameable cruelty in Cold Grove’s distant past is behind recent events or is the answer something far more mundane?

Product Details

• File Size: 427 KB
• Print Length: 341 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1478287292
• Publisher: S.R. Everett; 1 edition (July 1, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008GWT3M0
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #871,398 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing Supernatural Thriller August 22, 2012

By Mallory Anne-Marie Haws TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This review copy was provided to me on August 13, 2012, by Lovers of Paranormal Goodreads Group, from the author, in exchange for my provision of a fair, honest, authentic review.

Review of Devoured by S R Everett
4 Stars
Reviewed for Lovers of Paranormal GR Group

An engrossing reader's hook drags in the reader immediately. I turned the pages quite quickly and paid no attention whatsoever to the "outside world" till I finished this book. The author deftly juggles a number of plot lines, quite a few characters, AND a changing time era, managing both the contemporary plot lines and the historical background era, which is itself essential to the current thread of events. Here we have outstandingly paranormal and Supernatural elements, as well as crime, mystery, thriller, police procedural sub-genres, all of which expand the story and add to the reader's continuing intrigue.

There are so many plot lines here, it is difficult to choose which to mention. The community of Cold Grove, situated near a swamp, is a character all on its own, and the author brings the town vividly to life (both in its historical facets and in its contemporary styling). Cold Grove has never been "much of a town"; it's the kind of locale people prefer to move away from and not move into. Back in the early days, the marsh was home to generational witches, all female, who were ostracized publicly but sought out under cover of darkness for herbal cures and more-even poisons. When a greedy, arrogant, wealthy, town resident decides to pervert religion and rid himself of unwanted family members, he chooses the current herbal woman/witch, Bella, as his scapegoat. That's a mistake for which he, and his subsequent descendants, are going to pay in the coin of blood....

Rated 18+ for multiple instances of graphic violence; occasional profanity and sensuality. Not suited for YA readers under age 18. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Gruesome Deaths and Torture!!! August 20, 2012

By Christina Condy

Format:Kindle Edition

I received this book for my honest review from the Author.

If what you are looking for is a tale with gruesome deaths, torture scenes and a bit of sex thrown in for an offset then this is the book for you. I am actually haunted by the visions of the death's and tortures in this book. A few of them such as the death of Andy's mother by means of a baseball bat and his brother being beaten to death by their father just make me want to throw up. However, this story sucked me in. I started reading and almost like the pull of an auto accident on the side of the road this author pulled me in with the horrific deaths of Andy's pregnant mother and his twin brother by the abusive, jealous, possessive, crazy father. But the death toll didn't stop then, it continued on with the flash back the Sheriff had of his own father committing suicide when he was just 7 years old. I won't give you any more of the gory details but suffice it to say it does not end there.

While this book was enjoyable to read and try to figure out what was going to happen next, it was far from the enjoyable experience of a nice leisurely read. This book in fact reminded me a lot of the old horror movies where they used graphic violence and torture to scare the heck out of the viewers. And that is just what this book successfully did. It scared the heck out of me. This Author has talent to create a scene that makes you want to run and hide. And in my opinion that says a lot for a first time Author. I for one could have done without a few of what I'll call "loosely called" love scenes. I say loosely called because not one of them could truly be classified as a love scene. But they basically took up space in the book. They weren't necessary to the plot of the story in my opinion....

Then we bring in the entire aspect of what is really going on in this town. A witch Sana Louis Bellamy the ancestor of Andy Bellamy and we see a lot more is happening than meets the eye. And poor, poor Andy who lost his mother, father, brother and unborn sister in one fell swoop finally gets his life together and then blamo his wife Sara is kidnapped and Andy basically loses it totally and unleashes this horrible creation onto the town in the hopes of finding his wife's rotting corpse. (how gross is that?)

The only 2 problems I had with the book was the character creation. They seemed flat as if their personalities didn't quite mesh with their lot in life. There are a lot of times that what the character does and how he behaves clash with how a real person would behave. And while I know this is a work of fiction there has to be some basis of reality for us readers to relate. I could "SEE" Andy's father in a jealous fit of rage kill his mother, possibly even kill his brother and then himself. But I couldn't "see" a police officer going into a diner sitting there for hours while he was on duty waiting for a bit of loving. There are a few things like that which spoiled an otherwise good book. And the second was the way past and present were played out. The flashbacks were done in an abrupt manner. But even that wasn't something so out of the norm for horror genre.

All in all I give this a 4 star rating, because while those problems did hurt the story they didn't destroy it. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars For the Ravenous August 20, 2012

By J. Cameron McClain

Format:Kindle Edition

First-time author S. R. Everett's Devoured has an interesting old-school horror flavor to it. A number of scenes reminded me of some of the classic horror films of the 1970s. The connection is more than just in terms of the rawness of some of the death scenes. Films like Last House on the Left or Don't Look in the Basement share with Devoured a low-budget sensibility and storytelling that use story structure as a vehicle for scenes of torture and murder, with occasional pauses for sex.

The strength of the novel is in the backstory. The reason for all the horror visited on Cold Grove is revealed in an extensive flashback / retelling of the beast's origin story, and the biography of Bella. Everett's flashback to the earlier time provides a dramatic counterpoint to events in the present, this part works especially well for me.

The novel has its weaknesses as well. The characterizations need some work, and the interplay of past and present, while adding to the novel, could be performed a little better. Still, for a first-time author, Everett manages to tell the story well enough to keep the reader interested, and one can only expect his talent to grow as he continues writing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait until the next book! July 26, 2012

By KThomas

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great book! I am usually not a horror book reader, but was surprised how this book had me hooked after only a few pages. I am now anxiously awaiting the second book in the trilogy! Thanks, S.R.Everett for introducing me to a new type of book to enjoy!!Devoured (Cold Grove Trilogy)

4.0 out of 5 stars A Lock Your Doors novel October 12, 2012

By Veronica Lawson

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Everett spins a scary story with this one. His imaginary Cold Grove is a place where you don't want to go, but are lured into its confines none-the-less. I was captivated by his ability to share two time zones with relative clarity, but in doing so, doesn't give away too much too soon. Bella and the beast stayed with me for a couple of days after finishing the unbelievable ending. Wow. I would liked to have seen a little more character development, but that in no way diminishes the novel's appeal. It is a great read. I recommend it to readers of true horror.

More About the Author

S.R. Everett: Author of the Cold Grove Trilogy

S.R. Everett is an author and father of two. He was born and raised in Eastern Tennessee but has spent the last decade living in Northern Sweden.

He is the author of Devoured and Sunken, the first two books in the Cold Grove Trilogy, as well as numerous short stories and poems.

For more information, please visit the official website at: http://www.sreverett.com