Customer Reviews

Nightmare

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Robin Parrish is one of the most imaginative writers I know, particularly within the constraints of Christian fiction. From his Dominion Trilogy to "Offworld", he has shown an uncanny ability to make the unbelievable seem realistic, using tight prose and taut action scenes to speed readers toward often surprising endings. Never, though, have I been as unsure of his story's direction as in "Nightmare."

On the surface, this is a ghost story along the lines of the films "White Noise" and "The Haunting in Connecticut." Maia Peters is a college student with famous parents. Mr. and Mrs. Peters have a worldwide audience with their TV show that explores the paranormal, eschewing the hokey orbs and cheap thrills of typical ghost-hunters, going for more scientific and logical explorations of the unknown. Maia's celebrity status draws the interest of another student, rich and orphaned Jordin Cole. With Jordin's money and Maia's connections, they make a trek of well-known haunted sites in America, from Alcatraz to Gettysburg. They have some disturbing encounters, told with bravado and with cards held close to the chest by Mr. Parrish. I kept wondering where this story was going, and Jordin's motives remained mysterious for much of it.

In the second half, Parrish provides more biblical ground and, ultimately, delivers a heart-pumping showdown between good and evil. He doesn't try to explain everything, which I appreciated. On the other hand, I would've liked a little more background on the power behind a certain glyph and cube. That said, Parrish offers up some unique and thought-provoking ideas here, all of which point to the true Author of Life while encouraging readers to live their lives to the fullest. His characters are flawed and intriguing, and the first-person narrative moves quickly. The rock group, The Killers, has a song that says, "I've got a soul, but I'm not a 'souldier'," and this story provides a twist to those lyrics.

Once again, Robin Parrish proves he belongs in the ranks with Frank Peretti and Mike Dellosso, telling a creepy story with a powerful underlying purpose.

What would you do if you saw a ghost? Maia Peters, the daughter of famous TV-show paranormal investigators, might answer that question differently than most. But now she's in college and getting away from it all. Or so she thinks.

Jordin Cole is one of the richest people in the world. Her parents died when she was young, leaving her an inheritance that she could live on for the rest of her life. But not everything in her life is as happy as it should be and for deep, dark reasons known only to herself, Jordin wants to see a ghost.

Jordin seeks out Maia and the adventure begins. Nightmare is the story of flashbacks that recount Jordin and Maia's paranormal adventures one year prior which give a foundation for the present storyline where Jordin's gone missing and her boyfriend, Derek, and Maia must find her. Far beyond just one missing person, Jordin and Derek stumble upon a shocking plot that could have earth shattering consequences.

In Nightmare, Robin Parrish gives us a one of a kind tale of ghosts and ghost hunting. Going beyond the classic "Christian" conception that evidence of ghosts can be chalked up to demonic activity, Parrish plays a what-if game and treats the ghosts as if they are actually that. The result is a bold and unique story that is creepy, fun, and thought-provoking.

Parrish's ghosts aren't the only ethereal things in Nightmare. His ability to create a creepy story with lifelike characters is out of this world and Nightmare's theme gives us a glimpse beyond the mortal realm as well. What happens when we die? Are ghosts real? Where is the soul within the human body?

All of these questions in no way clutter up the story and instead drive it towards the exciting and completely unpredictable conclusion. The story is well-researched and despite its "out there" nature, comes across as chillingly plausible. There is one chapter where the characters encounter a demon that resides in an abandoned church that really stands out to me as exceptionally well written and realistic.

In the end, I am sure that Parrish will take some criticism for this foray into "Christian paranormal fiction;" most folks who first branch out of the norm are. But just as Frank Peretti made it okay to write about demons, maybe Parrish will make it okay to talk about ghosts. One can only hope, because I personally want to see what other stories Parrish has to offer. This may have been my first Robin Parrish novel, but it will not be my last.

Robin Parrish delivers another ace with Nightmare.

I love how Parrish is not a one-hit wonder. Say you're into Koontz or Dekker; you're pretty much guaranteed a cookie-cutter story with some interesting twist.

Not so with this guy.

He gave us a superhero trilogy that reignited the passion for heroes. These were Relentless, Fearless and Merciless. Merciless has the best final battle story of anything I have ever read.

Next we were given the NASA version of LOST with its mysterious disappearances and answers-that-led-to-questions in Offworld.

For this latest outing, Parrish gives us a glimpse into paranormal activity:

There's a new theme park called Ghost Town which promises to offer guests a real-life encounter with a ghost. Maia Peters, the daughter of ghost hunters, gives the theme park a try. While in a haunted house, she hears the voice of Jordin Cole - a friend who's been missing for a year.

Nightmare is divided into two parts: you get the story of Maia and Jordin traveling the world, hunting ghosts, a year ago and you also follow Maia and Jordin's boyfriend as they attempt to find Jordin in the current day.

Parrish keeps the mystery alive so that you'll be forced to read this book in one sitting.

Featuring authentic haunted places as locations and believable paranormal encounters, a lack of sleep is almost guaranteed once you open the pages.

Nightmare is the perfect companion to the movie, Paranormal Activity.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishing

Nightmare was an interesting book that raised some thought provoking questions and provided some interesting insight, but ultimately failed as a ghost story. I quickly became frustrated with the author's writing style, and really felt the lack of character development. Unfortunately, I did not find much to like about the main characters, and it wasn't until fairly well into the book that we were finally introduced to a character that seemed to have some depth and personality(Derek). The author frequently dips into cliched horror novel stand-bys which resulted in a story that never achieved the level of creepiness and tension that should have been present. The drama was often overwrought, and the dialogue ineffective and clunky.

The book barely squeaks into the three star category for me because even with all of the problems outlined above, I still finished it. The story was interesting and I hung with it because I really wanted to find out how it ended. I wanted to know how the author tied all of this ghost hunting in with a Christian world view. The ending brought up some interesting questions to ponder about the soul, free will, and the nature of faith, but also left some holes in the story that were big enough to drive a truck through. So, while I applaud the author for coming up with such an intriguing premise, I just wish it would have resulted in a better story. Not a recommend.

Being a huge fan of spiritual warfare, I've loved the likes of Frank Peretti, Randy Alcorn, C.S. Lewis, and the new faces out there who attempt to make a dent through a great novel. Robin Parris floored me with his debut, "Relentless," and then he completely let me down with the follow-up, "Fearless." While a lot of people liked his "Dominion" trilogy, I wasn't in any big hurry to read him again. But my wife thought she saw something in "Nightmare," and she loved it. And reluctantly, she convinced me that I might just want to pick it up. To say the least, I wasn't disappointed this time around! It was good.

What starts off as an eye-rolling trip to a so-called amusement park called "Ghost Town" for Maia Peters, ends up freaking her out! And what freaks her out is seeing the face of Jordin Cole. The face appears to be like a ghost, and warns Maia that "The nightmare is coming." Being the daughter of ghost hunters, she's convinced that what she saw is real. And when Jordin's boyfriend, Derek, can't find her, the hunt is on.

Dangerous things are on the prowl, and Maia could possibly be on the list of possible victims. Forces of evil are at work, and a battle is about to ensue!

Parrish doesn't offer to sugarcoat this as a joke, or something to feel good about. Paranormal activity does exist, and is real, and whatever you happen to believe in, believe that fooling around with the nature of this stuff shouldn't be entertained. On the other hand, Parrish doesn't put on professor glasses in an attempt to throw out a thesis on the matter either. But he does tackle the matter with great writing, and "Nightmare" will allow readers to examine their own lives in the end. And in the end, despite my glitch with "Fearless," I suppose that Parrish is worthy of checking out once again. So that means I'm not quite done reading him. Not yet.

I am a Christian, but I don't necessarily read Christian themed books. I find them to be condescending and unrealistic; thanks to the "left behind series" I have been put out of the Christian market. Like many others I was hoping to read a horror book, but ended up with a semi-sermon. Kind of like that guy at work who asks about your weekend, but somehow you spend most of the conversation talking about his aching back. I will say however, that I did like the story, the writing's intensity and the pacing of the writing; no dumbing it down or overly complicated scientific explanations, just good entertainment until the end. Black smokey figure, of course it's a demon, saw that one coming. The two lovers whose bond is so strong that one of them comes back from the dead, okay. It's like going on a exciting road trip and stopping on the side of the getting out of your car and being handed a carefully wrapped present; the card reads: The end. BORING. Kick up a notch next time Mr. Author, then maybe I'll be able to remember your name for the review, (yes, I know it's at the bottom of the page, I'm being snarcky!).

Have you ever read a great book but the author cannot end it with a bang.
No...Then buy this book and you will. It was OK (I really cannot believe the 5 stars reviews),
but the ending was disappointing.

Normally at this point, I'd start the review by saying Robin Parrish has done it again. Instead, I am thrilled to say this is the best writing Robin Parrish has ever done.

To be sure, I've been a fan of Parrish's fiction since he first started crafting his serial novel on Fuse Magazine (later Infuze Magazine) that eventually was re-worked as Relentless (Dominion Trilogy #1), the first book of the Dominion Trilogy. That novel was good, the second was better and the third improved on the previous. Parrish's standalone novel that followed, Offworld was good, but different, and had some minor hiccups.

But forget all that - Nightmare is Parrish at his suspenseful best. The pacing is near-perfect - bouncing back and forth between the current time and the previous year, revealing piece by piece of the larger story with a style reminiscent of the TV phenomenon Lost, but executed much tighter, more brilliantly.

The first person narrative instantly draws you in and develops a relationship between you and protagonist Maia Peters that keeps you interested and entertained, like a good storyteller recalling events. It very much reminded me of my favorite Dean Koontz novel, Life Expectancy. Maia's voice is unique and witty and personable enough that she feels like an old friend, despite her experiences that some readers may find hard to relate to. In fact, it is Parrish's particular attention to Maia's voice and resulting character that allows us to be enveloped in her world, even when some might doubt its believability otherwise. The fact that she appeals even to Parrish's Christian readers who don't share her beliefs is a testament to Parrish's deft handling of her personality that lesser writers might have completely screwed up.

I've seen where other reviewers (here and on other sites) have complained that Parrish focuses too much on the supernatural and on the "ghostly" sites, without forcing more of a Christian worldview onto the plotline. Quite frankly, if he had tried to do that, the story would have severely suffered, as would the credibility of Maia, who is NOT a Christian. However, Parrish balances Maia's decidedly non-mainstream Christian belief systems with that of Derek, her missing friend's fiancee, who is both secure in his beliefs and on the path to becoming a minister like previous generations of his family. Granted, Derek is mocked by Maia, but she admits and develops a grudging, at times, respect for him and his beliefs. What's more, he's presented as being rational, intelligent and established in his own beliefs - he didn't just inherit them from his parents or teachers. And I believe that Parrish's own influence comes out in the development of the characters - which is how it should work - we don't need explicit statements of belief or conversion stories to make a story acceptible to Christian readers. I think Parrish's subtlety is much more accessible to non-believers and agnostics and would be more likely to make them consider such issues than the explicit scenes in other Christian fiction.

Further, as someone who has had a little experience in this world, Parrish shows that he has done his research and tried to stay true to the experiences recorded by people in similar situations, which again, lends credibility to the characters and the storyline. And some folks seem to forget or ignore that while Maia is not a Christian, she DOES have a great respect for the supernatural and the boundaries we should and shouldn't cross. Without spoiling the story, she at times acts far more Christian than the people who claim to have Christian beliefs around her in the story. And respect for the supernatural, regardless of whether you believe in ghosts, aliens, or demons, is a much better (and more Biblical) response than hiding our heads in the sand as some reviewers have advocated.

I'll get off the soapbox now and just conclude that with the tightly paced and plotted storyline, the excellent characterizations and the attention to story details made this one of my favorite reads of all time. In suspense fiction, it stands easily next to Dean Koontz and Stephen King. This is one you won't want to miss!

Maia Peters hunts ghosts. Or at least she used to. The daughter of world famous paranormal investigators, Maia grew up traveling from haunt to haunt on their hit TV show. Now she is in college and longing to leave that life behind, and the unwanted celebrity status that comes with it.

Heiress Jordin Cole wants to see a ghost and is willing to do anything and spend any amount to make it happen. After tracking Maia down, Jordin convinces her to lead the investigation and take them to the most haunted places in the U.S. As they travel to historic locales and dance with the dead, Maia begins to sense that something is very wrong with Jordin. It's not until Jordin disappears a year later that Maia begins to put the pieces together and uncovers a frightening reality. The nightmare is coming and Maia doesn't know how to stop it.

Robin Parrish stands up and screams for attention with his clever and absorbing fifth novel. From page one we are treated to a new level of Parrish's talent through the first person narrative of Maia. This style draws the reader in with ease, and gives the haunting scenes throughout more depth and emotion. While it would be a stretch to classify this is a horror novel, there are plenty of scenes that will leave you breathless and anxious for more.

As the story unfolds Parrish alternates chapters between Maia and Joridn's paranormal investigations and Maia's search for Jordin a year later. This type of back and forth writing might come across as confusing or distracting in lesser hands, but Parrish more than pulls it off in LOST-like fashion. As I began to see where the story was going I was both surprised and intrigued. There have been lots of twists on the paranormal genre, but I'm not sure we've seen one quite like this. Luckily, Parrish knows how to weave a good story and if you pay close attention throughout, you shouldn't be surprised at the new direction we're led to in the end.

Nightmare is the kind of novel that will have people talking, both inside and outside the Christian market. Are ghosts real? Is there a difference between demons and ghosts? What happens when we die? Parrish tackles these hot button themes with class and an open mind, asking readers to examine their own beliefs and questions. In the end I was humbled by the poignant question Maia arrives at. What question is it? You'll have to read the book and find out! Never fear, you'll enjoy every moment of Robin Parrish's latest and by the end you will be longing for more.

I had never heard of this author, but happened to pick up this book at the library. From the back cover description, it appears to be a horror/mystery novel, and much of the book fits that description perfectly. Once I got near the end, I started to realize where the book was heading however. While I enjoyed the story, I feel like the book was marketed to trick me into thinking it was something it's not. I was looking for a horror novel, but I got a Christian fiction book. Worse yet, I made it almost all the way to the end before I figured out, and was very disappointed by the ending. Usually I can spot these types of books ahead of time, but this one got me. For the first three-quarters of the novel, I really enjoyed the writing and the story, but I had hoped for a more believable (to non-believers) ending.