In The Arms of Nightmares [Kindle Edition]

Robert Dean (Author), TW Brown (Editor), Shawn Conn (Illustrator)

Book Description

Behind the black and white snapshots of VE-Day celebrations and after the roar of the swinging trumpets dies down, a madman hunts his prey. Arthur Reilly hears jazz when he kills. Bebop is his sound of murder.

He sees souls exit bodies and can speak to them. Louie Armstrong, the sparkling voice of God. Miles Davis is the blue-toned growl of the devil. After being visited by a murderous angel, Arthur is set on a path of destruction with one goal in mind: get out of town and go where passion birthed music and murder, the one place that will set his soul free: New Orleans, The City of the Dead.

Until then, his life is a mess. His drinking is out of hand. Chloe, the dead French girl, continues to haunt him. Arthur’s mind is an abstract gallery of death and music—but where deviance reigns, his genius is awakened. However, as head chef at the best restaurant in town, it’s hard to keep out of the bright lights of high society—and it’s even harder to kill unnoticed.

Product Details

• File Size: 1386 KB
• Print Length: 268 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: May December Publications LLC (April 5, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007SB2AF2
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #484,884 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Arthur Reilly Gives Hannibal Lecter Nightmares April 9, 2012

By Ursula K. Raphael TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

In The Arms of Nightmares is depraved, frightening, and an incredible story of madness & cannibalism. I couldn't put this book down; the author did an impressive job of manipulating the timeline with flashbacks to create a terrifying thriller.

Arthur is a veteran suffering from severe post-traumatic stress that takes on a surreal quality as he pursues his dream of a being the world's greatest chef while secretly experimenting with human flesh. The story is told through third-person from Arthur's POV, but only revealing bits and pieces of Arthur's plans throughout the story. It was a great mix of action, descriptions and Arthur's random thoughts.

Filled with extreme violence, sex, and horrible acts of cruelty, it's an unusual tale of a man driven by his inner demons...demons appearing to take on a life of their own, and they're all telling Arthur to go to the City of the Dead.

I would place this story in the cult fiction genre because I don't think the story will appeal to all horror fans, but I think anyone deliberately looking for a macabre tale will find Dean's creation rather alluring...in a very morbid way.

The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five stars is because I found the ending a bit sloppy and confusing. I'm not sure if there will be a sequel or not, but I felt there were too many questions left unanswered...but I can't mention those questions without giving away spoilers. ;)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Insanity. You will fall into it. May 8, 2012

By Jason A. Myers

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Just finished Dean's book. Wow. He makes you actually like a sociopath. How is that possible? Through his prose. It's topnotch. As you walk through the world with Reilly, you quickly come to realize, he's categorically insane. He kills and has sex in a random, but functional method. He is that part inside all of us that we ignore, and never let out. He does things people think about, but never do.

Give this a read, you won't be dissapointed, although you may look in the mirror a little bit different after you do.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I debated between 3 and 4 stars August 17, 2012

By lezbeing

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have mixed feelings about this book. All the right ingredients were there, good character development, excellent descriptive writing, definitely an attention getter and it held my interest. I guess I just wanted to have stronger feelings for the main character, Arthur. I didn't hate him for his actions, but I didn't have any sympathy for him either. I settled for 4 stars, because even though I didn't 'care' for Arthur, the story certainly put me in his head and it was a fun ride.

More About the Author

Robert Dean is an author, journalist, and cynic living in New Orleans, LA.

Dean has worked for NBC, ABC, The Michiana Entertainer, and has had freelance pieces published in online journals, and has also has contributed to various independent zines that have came and gone throughout the years.
Currently, he is a contributor to Truthaboutmusic.com, and www.moonrunnerscountry.com

He has also written for the world-renowned Offbeat music magazine and has gotten to write about and interview some of the most exciting musicians to come out of New Orleans. He is also the head writer for the Quarter Rat, an insider magazine for the service industry of the French Quarter.

Dean is currently editing his second full length novel "Coffins" along with continuing work on his collection of short stories titled "The Snakes in the Garden." His story "Blue Eyeliner" has been published in Open Heart Press's "An Honest Lie". He's also written everything from stories to bad music reviews in the punk rock zines that have came and gone from coast to coast. He's easy to find on the internet, just use the Googles. Also, he enjoys ice cream and pandas.