Something evil stalks the citizens of Rose Valley—not for the first time, but hopefully for the last.
After suffering through a horrific car accident, Jake Rollins struggles to survive in his tiny hometown of Rose Valley—a place to which he hoped never to return.
When a sheep is viciously mutilated on the ranch where Jake is recovering, he's dragged back into the cloying politics of small town life. While the Sheriff tries to pass off the incident as the work of coyotes, Jake turns to a local reporter and old high school flame, Shandi Mason, to search for the truth.
They discover that this creature has stalked Rose Valley before, claiming nearly a century of carnage and intrigue, all starting with a shameful secret guarded over by one of the town's most respected citizens.
As livestock mutilations escalate into deadly attacks on humans, and the Sheriff organizes a foolhardy manhunt, Jake and Shandi must race to save the town from a seemingly unstoppable evil.
New author Barnett has captivated readers with the first in his new suspense/ thriller Lorestalker Series. With fast-paced storytelling and characters developed excellently through dialog, The Beast of Rose Valleyis Barnett’s debut in the writing community and it proves to be a gripping new story that will captivate the attention of those who love monster legends and tall tales of folklore. This story proves to be a cleverly concocted lore and the beginning of a series with incredible potential. What other monsters of lore will be introduced to readers? Where will the monsters sprout up? Will any of these, like the one in The Beast of Rose Valley, be brand new original creations? Within a series of unknown length, readers are in for a real treat as Barnett’s Lorestalker Series continues with the second book The Kraken of Cape Madre.
J.P. Barnett’s horror novel, The Beast of Rose Valley: Lorestalker #1, is a marvelous romp into the little-known world of cryptozoology as townspeople and a world-renowned cryptid hunter try to survive repeated encounters with a powerful and deadly creature. The author’s characters spring into being in that opening scene wherein childhood friends play very different roles as adults. I loved the rural setting with the town’s football games and the solidity of a place where everyone knows just about everyone else, and that bucolic ordinariness makes the bizarre aspects of the story work so very well. Barnett’s plot is clever and irresistible, and his book is a sheer pleasure to read. Horror, thriller and mystery fans alike will find much to their liking in this intriguing story about the unknown. The Beast of Rose Valley: Lorestalker #1 is most highly recommended.
The Beast of Rose Valley: Lorestalker #1 by J.P. Barnett reminded me of a cross between the old Friday night creature features and the TV series The Chronicle. I really enjoyed the initial slow pacing which allowed J.P. Barnett to set the scene for things to come, as well as giving us an insight into the integral characters' pasts; be they revealed directly through their story arc or as interactions with some of the supporting characters. The deep and evolving characters give the cast members a real feeling to them as they slowly change, not only as individuals, but as the relationships between them grow and alter as would be expected.
It was fun watching the characters dig through old articles and histories to connect past events to the current situation and try to understand its escalation. Intrigue, curiosity, surprises, and the depth of the plot will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering if they will understand all they need to, and be able to use it in order to save those they care for. As the first book in the Lorestalker series, The Beast of Rose Valley certainly sets a high bar for those to follow, and I look forward to future adventures.
The Beast of Rose Valley (Lorestalker, Book 1) by J.P. Barnett combines the elements of mystery, horror, sci-fi, and suspense. A badly shredded lamb and a spunky journalist who doesn’t take no for an answer become the catalysts of an important investigation that will change the Rose Valley community forever. The well fleshed out characters are one of the strengths of the story. The relationships between the protagonists are deftly developed without overwhelming the intriguing pursuit of the elusive beast. The narrative is simple yet engaging and the gory scenes are not too extreme or disturbing. The pacing is good and, as the plot gradually unfolds, readers will find themselves eager to connect all the dots and make early assumptions as clues appear one after the other. On the whole, Barnett is a fluent storyteller and I found myself gripped to the last page. It’s a commendable start for the Lorestalker series that pays homage to classic monster stories. Barnett also includes a special sneak peek of Book 2 that will delight fans of the genre.
