Book Review: Snow Day
Media Type: Ebook
Title: Snow Day
Author: Dan Maurer
Publisher: Black Rapids Press
Pages: Kindle Edition; 100 pages
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Source: Pump Up Your Book Promotions
—————————————————————–
Genre: Horror / Thriller
HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart
Recommended to: Readers who enjoy a good thriller with horror undertones.
Add it on: Goodreads / Shelfari / Amazon
It happens each winter, and has for over 35 years. Every time the snow starts to fall late in the evening before a school day, the dreams begin again for Billy Stone. They are always the same – there’s a dark tunnel, and there’s blood, lots of blood, and someone is screaming.
In this chilling childhood tale, Billy, recounts the events of one unforgettable day in 1975. On that day, he and his friends played carefree in the snow, until an adventure gone awry left him far from home, staring death in the face, and running from a killer bent on keeping a horrible secret.
Set in a time before Amber Alerts, when horror stories were told around camp fires instead of on the nightly news, Snow Day is a blend of nostalgia and nightmare that makes us question if the good old days were really as good as we remember.
From a new voice in dark fiction comes a thriller about an idyllic childhood turned horrifying; a cautionary tale about how losing sight of the difference between feeling safe and being safe can lead to deadly consequences.
Let me tell you, I was sincerely impressed with Snow Day. There is a hook at the beginning that draws you in and then, before you know it, you’re flipping the last page with shaking fingers. To say that Dan Maurer’s book is a thriller is a bit of an understatement. I’d equate it more to one of those horror movies that you just can’t look away from. Sure the overall story is a thriller, but at its heart this connects to the reader on a visceral level.
What really struck me was how such a simple concept was turned into such a shiver inducing story. Billy Stone lives in the idyllic world of the 70’s. His family believes that the small, suburban neighborhood they live in will protect him from anything that might mean him harm. As long as he stays on his block, life is good. Or is it? Dan Maurer explores the darkness that always lurks beneath the surface of any “perfect” place and he does it with expertise.
The one thing that left a little wanting for me was how quickly the book moved. I know this is a novella, and a very well written one at that. However I can happily admit that I wouldn’t have a single problem following Billy’s story through a full fledged novel. I love getting to know the characters I’m rooting for, and in this case I barely skimmed their surfaces. Still, I can’t deny I loved every minute of it.
If you’re a fan of stories that will make your pulse pound and your fingers fly across the pages, Snow Day is a novella you definitely need to add to your TBR. Part thriller, part horror novel, I devoured every minute of it. I know that you will too.
FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.
