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    Animosity
    Animosity
    Animosity
    Ebook251 pages4 hours

    Animosity

    By James Newman

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    A bestselling horror author discovers that nothing is more frightening than his own neighbors in this dark tale of psychological suspense.

    After his wife leaves him for another man, Andrew Holland throws himself into his writing more vigorously than ever. He lives a quiet life in the town of Poinsettia Lane, where his neighbors are proud to know a celebrity author. But all that changes when Andy discovers a murdered child not far from his home.

    Though the authorities clear Andy of any wrongdoing, the local media suggests eerie connections between his gruesome novels and his tragic discovery. His neighbors start to turn on him. Then the vandalism and threatening phone calls start. Just as Andy begins to wonder if he’ll survive this ordeal with his sanity intact, another child’s body is found. Now Andy wonders if he’ll survive at all.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOpen Road Integrated Media
    Release dateMar 13, 2014
    ISBN9781618682390
    Animosity
    Author

    James Newman

    Newman began writing fiction when he came out of rehab. He was addicted to pulp fiction. There was no cure. Before that he played guitar and sang in neu-gazer bands in London. Newman moved to Bangkok in the year 2001 and began writing fiction. He lived in ten dollar hotel rooms and survived on chemical whiskey and raw luck. Newman has published over fifty short stories in various publications all over the world; most recently for Big Pulp Magazine. His novel Bangkok Express appeared in 2010. The sequel Bangkok City was published by Booksmango in 2012. A collection of his short stories Thailand after Dark documents his short story ventures living in Thailand. Other titles include Lizard City his latest pulp horror novella - a free ebook! His new book Stripper Ripper is set for release later in 2012. His interests include noir fiction, beer Leo, Charles Bukowski, and travelling around Thailand dreaming about the oncoming apocalypse.

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    Reviews for Animosity

    4.5/5

    14 ratings4 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Animosity is a psychological horror thriller.Andrew Holland is a newly divorced father of a young tween daughter, who he shares custody with his ex-wife. Andy is also a horror writer of some extremely graphic and controversial topics. He lives in the peaceful suburb of Poinsettia Lane where everybody knows everyone and life is idyllic until the day Andy, and his dog, Norman Bates, find the body of a young girl, naked and battered in the newly developed section of the lane.From the moment the police leave, their suspicions of Andy are apparent, his neighbours begin to change. First its a look, a closed shutter as he walks by, a turned head as he greets them, however, Andy also believes he is suffering from paranoia and dismisses the animosity that appears to be building.Refusing to bring any undue attention to his plight, Andy ignores the pleas and calls from the press, his neighbours and friends. He alienates himself from the situation in order to write the book with a deadline fast approaching and those around misinterpret his actions for that of a guilty person. The media adds its own twist by continually playing up an allegation that occurred in Andy's youth as they unrelentlessly bash him in the papers and on television, adding fuel to an already blazing fire.After Andy's daughter comes to stay for her scheduled visit, the neighbours read into an event wrong and Andy begins to believe he may be in danger for his life. After reporting very disturbing incidents that appear to be happening to Andy and his property, the police are lax to do anything about it. After evidence proves that Andy isn't a culprit in the case, another body shows up outside of a horror book store, further implicating Andy in his neighbour's eyes.As the once peaceful neighbourhood begins to break down, Andy must fight for his life in order to get out alive and his neighbours want blood...his blood!I thought this was one of the best books I have read this year and I have read a lot of them. It is a setting that could occur anywhere at anytime, anywhere in the world in which people converge and live together in a communal type operation. Where lies and gossip feed minds and make them feast upon the negativity that it inspires. How mob mentality can make or break any situation given the correct driven force to rally them. I was impressed with the build up of the plot, the tranquil beginning to the break neck speed you find yourself coursing through in its completion. The characters were remarkable in their clarity and perception and added the exact nuance needed to make this a great book. These people could be your neighbours, this could be your neighbourhood and at any moment, those people you meet and greet each day, could turn against you and hunt you down like an animal. Your taken into the inner psyche of a human's mind and shown it could be turned to such absurdity in relativity short period of time and for the least of reasons.I loved the written style of James Newman, some chapters consisted of just a few lines of prose and in truth, that is all that was needed, it gives the book a defining edge that isn't easy to explain. The truth of the story is one that makes me shiver thinking how easily it could occur. The simple perfection with which it is written escalates you into madness and leaves you looking at your neighbours, wondering if they also hold their beast within.If you plan on reading this book, give yourself time to complete it, you will not wish to put it down whence you begin. I handed this over to my dude when I was finished, he is a straight-up bathroom reader and within six hours he had it read in its entirety and we still discuss the possibilities and implications of the author's message. It is an extremely great read, told in a very exact nature that will leave you feeling slightly paranoid.
    • 5/5
      I don't even know what to say. I'm moved, I'm pissed off, and I'm shaken. This was a powerful tale.

      A brutal story made even more so by the fact that it could (mostly) happen. A child's dead body is discovered by a horror author. From then on, his life will never be the same.

      There are many levels here, from a fearless look at mob mentality to a scathing commentary on the sad state of our media. All combining into a monumental explosion of a denouement. The only issue I had was that the story went just a little over the top, as far as being realistic, but by that time, I was too caught up in the drama to care.

      Be prepared for a rough ride because Mr. Newman knows all of our buttons, and he pushes every single one of them. Can you handle this kind of Animosity? Come on, I dare you.

      My highest recommendation!

      I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review and this is it.
    • 5/5
      For reference, here's the list of my Top Twenty Reads of All Time. (ANIMOSITY has not been added yet, because I want to showcase those that came before it.) Once you click over, I'd like you to note only the top five. Now, on with the review.

      ANIMOSITY is the best book I've read. Period. Will you think so? Well, this comes down to, as always, personal preference and the foundation on which you've built your life. My own perception of the human condition is different than yours. I'm a horror writer, parent, and life-long dog lover. Some of us will share one or two or all of those traits but still will not view the world around us in the same light. With ANIMOSITY, James Newman forced a mirror into my face. I wasn't reading about Andrew Holland. The events of this book were happening to me. Never before have I been so affected by a piece of fiction. When I wasn't crying I was filled with a tangible sense of dread. Throughout the entire novel, something sinister lingered in my peripheral vision. Newman channeled malice and foreboding, and poured both into me, as if he'd stuck a funnel down my throat.

      This book asks hard questions: Does art truly imitate life? Are writers of dark fiction, at their cores, dark people, and is that a bad thing? Should society be mindful of those who create scenes of murder and mayhem for the entertainment of others? Your answer to that question will affect how much you appreciate this novel. Furthermore, Newman delves into mob mentality and self-imposed reality. We've all seen footage or been part of a riot. You've seen the maniacal glee spread across the faces of persons you wouldn't think possible of such violence. The human mind is a scary place, and once that hunk of gray jelly settles on what it considers fact there's not much anyone can do to sway its perception of reality. Just look at religion and politics, how either side of the fence can be so adamant about their beliefs that they will ignore truth and hard evidence. No one likes being wrong, and that can draw out the worst in everyone of us. It is not the story or plot or even the characters that make this book exceptional (although those parts are outstanding as well) but the overall message.

      Placing this novel as number one on my list of favorite reads was a much harder decision than I expected. I had to consider several things: entertainment value, story progression, the quality of the writing, and personal preference. I think the most important part of Newman's tribute to the horror genre is that every chapter, every page, every word is important to the piece. That cannot be said of any of the other novels in my Top Twenty list. Depending on what kind of reader you are, superfluous detail can be fun or tedious to read. Marissha Pessl's NIGHT FILM, the book that previously held the number one spot on my list, came together at the end to form one large picture, but I would be lying if I said there weren't parts when I was bored senseless. Same goes for NOS4A2, IT, HORNS, and THE HOBBIT. ANIMOSITY is relentless. Not once did I check how much I had left to read, and, even though I required brief breaks from the unyielding tension, I never actually wanted to stop reading.

      The blurb on the cover states: "...one mean hunk of nightmare..." You'd be wise to believe that statement. I cannot stress enough how unsettling this book is, and I refuse to spoil a single word of it by warning you of the atrocities you'll witness.

      In summation: I've done my best with this review, but I've come nowhere near doing justice to Newman's tale of an unlucky fellow set upon by a neighborhood possessed by false truth. ANIMOSITY is a masterwork, a canvas painted with social commentary and buckets of blood that should not be ignored.
    • 5/5
      Andrew Holland seemed to have it all. He was a successful author of horror novels. He had a beautiful daughter and a fairly decent relationship with his ex-wife. He lived in a great neighborhood with his dog (and best friend), Norman (named after Norman Bates from "Psycho", of course). His 11-yr-old daughter, Samantha, would come and stay every Wednesday and every other weekend. Andrew had plenty of time to write and he loved his life.Until everything fell apart.While on a walk with Norman one afternoon, Andrew came upon the body of a young girl who had been raped and murdered. He was quickly ruled out as a suspect, but not according to his neighbors. As time went by, rumors, stories, and accusations built up until Norman's standing in the neighborhood left him alone and friendless. Information from his past came up and questions regarding his writing genre made the rumors worse.Then there was another murder. In the same fashion. In the same town. Repercussions started slow at first. Neighbors giving him strange looks and pointing at him through closed curtains. Books withdrawn from store shelves. But then they became increasingly ominous. Andrew's vehicle was damaged in the middle of the night. His beloved dog was poisoned. Until one night they all came like a vicious mob, wielding weapons and screaming obscenities.It was just him against the entire neighborhood. He had no phone, no car, no way of getting out. They had him surrounded. How was Andrew going to escape? Would he escape? What would happen to Samantha?I read this book from start to finish and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It's not just a horror story; James Newman makes you think about your own moral compass and how you judge other people on the surface. Very well written and thought provoking. Will recommend!

    Book preview

    Animosity - James Newman

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