Customer Reviews

Risen

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I recently saw a Kindle novel titled Risen recently and got my hopes up it was the one by Jan Strnad I had read several years ago. It wasn't. And now this morning I see it is available again - and on Kindle. Snagged it right away. It is worth reading again! Excellent Supernatural tale not to be missed. Well written, great cast of characters and very engaging storyline.

Here is a synopsis: Welcome to Anderson. It's pretty quiet here and that's the way we like it. One thing, though. Madge Duffy murdered her husband John last week, or thought she did. She spent the night in jail but then John walked out of the morgue none the worse for wear. And there's a bullet hole in Deputy Haws' shirt that he can't explain. Something's going on in this town of ours. Something that makes your skin crawl and your teeth grind in the night. I don't know what it is, but I'll tell you this: It scares me.

I have been reading horror since the 1970s and like most folks I appreciate an an excellent well-told horror tale, in the vein of the great horror writers of our generation (Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Graham Masterton, F. Paul Wilson, James Herbert, etc . . . ), this one ranks with some of their best for pure entertainment.

As I continue to swim the seas of horror on kindle, very little really grabs me. Some of the ideas are excellent, but often the skill level of the writing does not match the imagination of the author. I am happy to report that Jan Strnad's "Risen" has both a great idea and the smooth, professional prose to pull off an exciting traditional horror tale that should appeal to the majority of horror readers.

I've read that the concept reminded a reader of the very good film Dead and Buried, or even Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but Strnad takes the idea of not knowing who is 'us' and who is 'them' and fully makes it his own. Rather than push the hardcore gore or sex envelope, "Risen" relies more on action, suspense, and characters you care about to tell a tale that could sit alongside the older work of King or Koontz.

The pacing did seem to slow slightly in the middle, and while mostly satisfying, the ending wasn't much of a surprise, but the storytelling skill evident throughout and a great kindle price (currently $2.39), make this an easy recommendation to all readers looking for a really solid horror/thriller.

The dead are rising but this is not a typical zombie story. These risen are better than new and go back to their old lives. The phenomenon is also quite local, occurring in the small town of Anderson.

One night an abused wife kills her husband and the deputy is accidentally shot. The woman's husband returns to life and forgives her. The town is aghast. The deputy returns to life but only his accidental killers knew he was dead. Why is he keeping it secret?

We follow a reporter, the woman he is most interested in, and her young son as they all become involved in the strange events going on in the town. They come to suspect that there may be more risen in town than those they know.

The risen return to life, many in secret, and all become devoted to Seth. Seth is the one who led them back to life. Seth has a plan. Seth is in charge and is not questioned as Seth's motives are his own.

This is a very interesting tale. I enjoyed it quite a lot but would have like just a little more information. Maybe a little more about who or what Seth is. Maybe an explanation on why some of the deaths are handled they way they are or why some are left for later. These details could have made a good book into a great book.

If you like creepy horror books where the action keeps escalating and keeps you guessing, then you will probably really enjoy this one. But if you want one that is gorier, you should try The Rising by Brian Keene.

I don't like horror stories. I don't watch slasher films, I don't like gore, and I don't like haunted houses.

What I do like is a well told and interesting story, and that's what I found here.

Read the description. Does it sound a bit like Garrison Keillor talking about a disturbing version of Lake Woebegone?

Or maybe more like an episode of the Andy Griffith Show, if it were written by Stephen King.

That's the feeling I got, and it stayed with me through the book.

There was not too much in 'Risen' that I found too horrific. Certainly some creepiness, certainly some disturbing scenes, and a few that made wonder what kind of trauma the author has suffered to think of this stuff. But nothing that made me afraid to turn the light out, or that made me jump at every noise in the night.
Instead I got characters I cared about, and a story I wanted to finish reading.

That's good by me.

I'm glad I didn't know too much about this book going in. I might not have given it shot.
I'm not going to say I finished reading with a smile on my face. No way...it's not that kind of book... but I'm glad I read it.

Well written, and the handful of typos and errors stood out mostly because they were not many, like a few small black marks on a clean white wall.

This was well done, though it had a couple of slow spots and that's why I gave it four instead of five stars. I enjoyed the characters in the book, they were well fleshed out.

Alfred Hitchcock in "Hitchcock/Truffaut" talks of a story idea he tried and never adequately mastered. Its premise: what would we do if our dead loved ones returned to this life? Hitchcock abandoned the idea because he never found a satisfying story development for it. Jan Strnad's RISEN deals with the same premise and conquers it mightily. What would we do if our loved ones (and not so loved ones) came back? Strnad's relentless examination is breathlessly paced, gnawingly thoughtful and populated with an array of characters we can love, hate, fear - and fear for. To this Americana horror he adds an observant humor that is as wicked as a paper cut. Strnad the sensualist is always on the prowl too: The smell of a Methodist church, the many contortions of dying, the feeling of the Void, the psyche of aimless teens, the crustiness of aged bodies, the palpable fear of impossible horror grinning you in the face. Come to the small average town of Anderson and meet the RISEN. It will be hard to get them out of your mind. A must-read.

Risen is a chilling novel that left the hairs on my arms stand on end. It kept me biting my thumbnails long after I turned the last page! What happens when a woman takes revenge on her abusive husband by murdering him? He is risen from the dead by a dark force ready to take over the town of Anderson in Cooves County. Reporter Brant Kettering and rebellious teen, Tom Culler realize there is something evil lurking in this close-knit town. First one is risen, then another, and another. They can't trust a soul, but must discover the truth before the entire town has "Risen." Does immortality have a price? How can you defeat something that can keep coming back, night after night? Jan Strnad's descriptive voice is first-rate. This literally nail-biting novel kept me turning page after page, each filled with plenty of action and horror. Could this actually happen? If so, would we ever know? I can't wait to see this one on the big screen! This is one of the more exciting E-books I have read. Many kudos to Mr. Strnad.

This is a superbly written horror story. I wonder why it's author is not as successful as King and Koontz. In my opinion, he is just as good of a writer, if not better. I recently bot a Samsung Galaxy Tab and downloaded the Kindle and Nook apps. I'm a huge fan of Peter Straub's "Ghost Story," which is the best novel involving ghosts I have ever read. While trying to find another great ghost story, I came across this novel. I had doubts I would like it but have been very, very pleasantly surprised. The only reason I don't give it five stars is that I rarely ever give any product a five star rating.

This was a classic horror novel. Suspenseful with a town full of interesting characters. It kept me riveted to the last page! Loved it!

I just finished reading Risen. I was trying to think of a really good catch phrase you could use for advertising, like, "I give it two reanimated thumbs up." Or, "It made me want to go out and slice a throat or two." But anyway, I really enjoyed it. I read a lot of Anne Rice, Richard Matheson, some Stephen King (though not recently) and I've read everything H.P. Lovecraft has ever written. I can't believe no one wanted to pick this up. There are really no slow bits in it, it moves. And the best thing is that the ending was very satisfying. Great job! I will always think of Seth when I see bubbles rise to the surface of a lake. Thanks for a good read!