Customer Reviews

The Killing Kind

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you read my review for Bryan's last masterpiece, DEPRAVED, you might remember I mentioned this book. THE KILLING KIND is the best book Bryan Smith has written...period! Characters that come off the page full of life (unless they are being brutally killed), dialogue that is true to the character speaking...and a plot that will keep you up for one long begining to end reading session.

I don't want to say anything about the plot because it really does unfold in shocking ways. Let's just say that Bryan doesn't leave a lot of living bodies in his wake. Yes, it is a pretty bleak novel. But it is well worth the price. Another great piece of horror literature from one of the best. Buy it...read it...reread it. It is THAT good.

Throughout this modern day gore-fest, Bryan Smith invites readers to examine the build up to one of the bloodiest massacres ever to hit the USA from multiple points of view, projecting fear, loathing, delight, and pure dread through the eyes of both victims and assailants.

Robert really digs Goth chicks; the kinds with raven black hair and PVC corsets that make up his immense friend-list on Myspace. But just imagine his surprise when, whilst filling up his car, a classic Goth chick comes sauntering right up to him - and sticks a 38mm revolver in his gut. Roxie is undeniably gorgeous, but this rose has thorns; so when she orders Rob at gun point to follow a van full of preppy rich kids, then, well - who is he to argue?

After setting off, Rob gets to know Roxie pretty intimately, and develops a kind of twisted, lustful case of Stockholm syndrome. Beaten, confused, and scared out of his mind, he soon finds himself battling with a dilemma - does he really want to go back to his boring, drama-free life, or should he keep up with his psycho girl's plans?

Unfortunately, it's too late - he's been ensnared by Roxie, and she just isn't a girl you refuse. Whilst their journey towards the bloody beach bash continues, readers get to don a variety of new skins, and meet some crazy characters whilst inside them.

Turns out, Roxie isn't the only one lusting for blood - because Julie Cosgrove, an unsuspecting teenage girl, is even sicker than she is. Leaving her babysitting days behind her for a wild trip of gruesome self-discovery, Julie teams up with hill-billy corpse-raping Zeb, who "shows her the ropes". Unsurprisingly for Julie, this killing stuff is contagious - and soon, she just keeps hankering for more.

But what happens when these couples' journeys cross paths? And what abominable havoc do they wreak at the (allegedly) unsuspecting rich kids' party?

Written with an "in-your-face" confidence, this novel is not for the faint at heart. The omniscient 3rd viewpoint creates a refreshing insight into the lives and minds of these deliciously brutal characters, and the horrific bloodshed they cause. The novel as a whole speaks with a merciless voice that knocks all other horror novels clear out of the water; an eye-opening `must read' for horror fans.

Great Horror novel. I can't say i enjoyed the subject matter as much as Soultaker or Depraved, but this book is brilliant; it reminds me of a Richard Laymon book, but with a rock 'n roll spice. If you love horror, you'll love this book.

3 AND 1/2 STARS

This is definitely one of Bryan Smith's better horror novels. Visceral and highly charged, the first half reminded me a lot of the late, great Richard Laymon. Smith focuses on a select group of characters and their rather graphic killing spree, mainly set over a week of rampant slaughter. There are quite a few scenes of violence that will make even most jaded reader uncomfortable. Although most of the characters, on the surface, are not very likable, the female killer, Roxie, is written with meticulous care. The author nicely balances her violent acts with just enough eroticism that you find yourself ashamed to be so attracted to her.

I did feel the motivations for a lot of the killings were questionable, at best. But you can ignore those details because it is clear this book is meant for pure entertainment and to shock and keep the reader, along with the characters, constantly guessing as to what will happen next. One element that hurt the story for me was that the plot was too dependent on coincidence; not a single witness around during the violent outbreaks, people being at the wrong place at exactly the wrong time, and random violence happening outside of the main story arc (the bar beating, etc.). What are the chances all this would happen over the course of a week?

I will admit really enjoying this book until the scene at the Walgreens store, about 60 pages from the end. It was here that I felt the story's reality begin to slip into the absurd and lose a little credibility. Author Smith still manages to tie things up nicely with an effective, if gratuitous, climax. The aftermath seemed a touch pedestrian and rather expected, but, even with its flaws, I can still confidently say this novel remains a very good read.

TKK is the best Leisure horror that I have read in the past couple of years. This is my first Bryan Smith novel. It is certainly not going to be my last.

Action starts right from the get-go as the main killer abducts an innocent bystander and goes on a wild killing spree. Much of it recalls Natural Born Killers. The story quickly switches to a group of yuppie kids heading to Myrtle Beach for spring vacation. Even though this second plot slows the pace, there are enough sexual intrigues and melodrama to pull me through. The story really gets off the ground by the third act, in which the killer, her abductee and her protege invade the vacationers' beach house. The tension and gore ratchets way up. The emotional payoff is considerable.

The author has also left some of the killer's key decisions and motivations (purposefully?) vague, leaving room for interpretation, and possibly a sequel, which would be immensely welcome. He has created such a memorable killer. It would be foolish not to bring her back.

(Spoiler Alert!) My only reservation is that the author tries too hard to off all of his "good" characters, and leave "baddies" go unpunished. This kind of resolution might have felt refreshingly nihilistic 5 decades ago. It gets tiresome quickly. I subtracted 1 point for that. Otherwise, TKK is a killer read.

This novel is intense. It's neck-break pace of violence is truly one of a kind. Very few of the characters have redeemable qualities, in fact, most exhibit or manifest detestable actions by the end of the novel (if they live that long). Smith fleshes these characters out and then (usually) quickly knocks them off! You won't be able to put this novel down!

...this would be the type of story he would write. Stuck at Atlanta airport all day, I read the Killing Kind in one sitting. It is brutal to say the least. This is my second novel by Mr. Smith and I am a fan. Authors like Smith and Ketchum and Edward Lee are great because they dont try to make a brush with insanity into a happy ending. The reality of this story is that in this situation, this is how it would most likely end. True Mr. Smith takes on about 10 main characters, which makes their full development a little challanging. However, the action and descriptions more than make up for that and the "really important" characters are written well enough. Having read everything Richard Laymon, Jack Ketchum and David Wellington have wrote...and most of Edward Lee (come on Mr. Lee lower those book prices)I am always looking for a new author to satisfye my horror passion. Mr. Smith delivers. One word of caution...this is not the vanilla horror of King or Koontz (both great) so if you purchase be prepared for some extreme "ickiness".

If you liked "Depraved", you will like this book. Bryan Smith does an excellent job following multiple story lines, each one more over-the-top than the other. They came together nicely for a very satisfying ending. I highly recommend this book.

Bryan Smith is without a doubt one of the most exciting writers I've had the pleasure to discover in quite some time. The Killing Kind is easily one of the most visceral experiences I've ever had reading a horror novel.

The sheer Nihilism found within the pages of The Killing Kind is in my opinion where the novel exceeds, heroism is a rarity in this world and when it is shown by one of the few "good" characters, they pay a hefty and painful price for it. In fact when reading TKK, one can't help but notice that is in fact the unjust who go unpunished while they few virtuous characters meet up with gruesome demises.

This is hardcore horror at it's finest. It's easy for this genre to heap on the gore and depravity to ungodly levels till it's parodies itself and looses all it's impact. But that's where TKK surpasses the herd. It most definitely reaches levels of depravity that you don't see everyday to be certain, but it never goes "all in" with it.

But while it may pump the breaks in the gore department, it certainly goes full force in character development. Smith juggles multiple characters in multiple timelines with such incredible ease. It really shows the magnitude of Smith's writing talents.

Another big plus is for the most part you generally care for the main characters especially Chuck, Zoe, Rob, Roxie and Julie. The really crazy part is two of those characters are some of the most cruelest murderes ever created.

Rob is a complex charactrer as well as one of my favorites. He went from a nice guy that ends up in a bad situation, to someone who can willingly let multiple characters die in horribly torturous ways. In a way he's worse than Roxie and Julie are, they are addicted to murder, Rob is not.

The killing Kind starts with Rob being kidnapped at gunpoint by Roxie, a beautiful suicide girl type that is utterly insane. It seems that while in a coffee shop a group of privileged teens make fun of Roxie. While that may seem like no big deal to some, to Roxie that's enough to kill for.

So with Rob as her prisoner they follow the teens to toward a beach house that Chuck's rich father rented for them, which is totally secluded. It's the perfect desolate spot with absolutely no one to hear their screams....

If that wasn't bad enough, another brutal killer/ necrophile is on the same path. Zeb is as brutal as they come, led by a murderous voice only he can hear, he crosses paths with Julie Cosgrove. A 17 year old girl that the voice insists is just as depraved as Zeb.

The Killing Kind follows all three groups as they heard toward their destiny meeting at the beach house. The great thing about this novel is nothing will go the way you expect. You think the story will go one way then BLAM!!! Smith hits you with an uppercut that you never saw coming.The books ends in the only way it possibly can, very downbeat.

This book will stay with you long after you finish it. As I got close to the end I felt sad because the journey was coming to an end. I think that shows how great a writer Smith is, I hungered for so much more. Luckily I've learned through his Facebook, that he's working on part 2 as we speak!

Do yourself a favor, pick this incredible novel up and be prepared to be blown away. Roxie is waiting and she's not one to be denied....

This book is a horror/slasher movie in novel form. The story follows a group of college kids on a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach where violence and gore await them. I enjoyed the well-defined characters. It's a page turner and a quick read.