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Frankenstorm #1-6
Frankenstorm
"Remember when paperback originals were cool? Sex, action, suspense? Try FRANKENSTORM. It's old school." --Stephen King
A storm of epic proportions is brewing off the coast of northern California. Residents have been warned to prepare for disaster. It's a false hope in the face of what's coming. . .
Frankenstorm
In a secret government lab, virologist Fara McManus tries to stop an experiment out of control--before more human subjects are infected. But in a blazing hail of bullets, survivalist Ollie Monk launches a paramilitary attack on the lab, releasing the infected into the night. And as the nightmare escalates to a fever pitch, internet blogger Ivan Renner traces the destruction as it claims more victims, beginning with a single mother unknowingly spreading the virus. A father and son, held hostage by a lunatic. A local sheriff, single-handedly fighting madness, murder, and worse.
No one will find shelter from this storm.
Praise For Ray Garton
"Gripping, original, and sly."--Dean Koontz on Live Girls
"Garton will scare you."--Fangoria
Includes Ray Garton's bonus story "The Guy Down the Street"
A storm of epic proportions is brewing off the coast of northern California. Residents have been warned to prepare for disaster. It's a false hope in the face of what's coming. . .
Frankenstorm
In a secret government lab, virologist Fara McManus tries to stop an experiment out of control--before more human subjects are infected. But in a blazing hail of bullets, survivalist Ollie Monk launches a paramilitary attack on the lab, releasing the infected into the night. And as the nightmare escalates to a fever pitch, internet blogger Ivan Renner traces the destruction as it claims more victims, beginning with a single mother unknowingly spreading the virus. A father and son, held hostage by a lunatic. A local sheriff, single-handedly fighting madness, murder, and worse.
No one will find shelter from this storm.
Praise For Ray Garton
"Gripping, original, and sly."--Dean Koontz on Live Girls
"Garton will scare you."--Fangoria
Includes Ray Garton's bonus story "The Guy Down the Street"
409 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
77 people are currently reading
1,198 people want to read
About the author
Ray Garton
192Ìýbooks558ÌýfollowersRay Garton is the author of several books, including horror novels such as LIVE GIRLS (which has a movie in the works), CRUCIFAX, E4 AUTUMN, and THE FOLKS; thrillers like TRADE SECRETS and SHACKLED; and numerous short stories and novellas. He's also written a number of movie and television tie-ins for young readers. He lives with his wife, Dawn, in California.
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August 18, 2024I’m doubtful that the title is to be taken literally in the Sharknado sense, in which a forlorn, neck-bolted, exquisite corpse rides the lightning into a new environment, or in which a graveyard is swept up in a maelstrom and its inhabitants are re-animated mid-monsoon and begin raining down on an unsuspecting town.
I saw that there were seven books in this series and thought “how many Frankenstorms does it take to wipe out humanity? Is there even a remote chance that I will ever read all of these?� Mercifully, I discovered that this volume is the complete collection of apparent installments comprising what we used to call a novel. I’m really getting tired of having to keep track of stuff like this, occasionally realizing, post hoc, that I have just dedicated hours to the second, third, or nineteenth book in an endlessly convoluted and ever-expanding mythos.
Normalize standalone stories!
I saw that there were seven books in this series and thought “how many Frankenstorms does it take to wipe out humanity? Is there even a remote chance that I will ever read all of these?� Mercifully, I discovered that this volume is the complete collection of apparent installments comprising what we used to call a novel. I’m really getting tired of having to keep track of stuff like this, occasionally realizing, post hoc, that I have just dedicated hours to the second, third, or nineteenth book in an endlessly convoluted and ever-expanding mythos.
Normalize standalone stories!
August 29, 2015
Stephen King recommended book. One of 11 Books That Scared The Master of Horror, Stephen King, And Will Terrify You, Too! He said: "Remember when paperback originals were cool? Sex, action, suspense? Try Frankenstorm, by Ray Garton. It's old school."
I have no idea why this had so few ratings. Is no one reading this one? It's got great character-development and was very suspenseful. The book finished up a bit too neatly for my tastes; I always like when there is a lingering sinister moment at the end. However, I was totally engrossed and didn't want to put this one down. I will definitely read more of Garton's stuff.
I have no idea why this had so few ratings. Is no one reading this one? It's got great character-development and was very suspenseful. The book finished up a bit too neatly for my tastes; I always like when there is a lingering sinister moment at the end. However, I was totally engrossed and didn't want to put this one down. I will definitely read more of Garton's stuff.
June 6, 2021
Garton gives us a sprawling novel here with a host of characters but the title is somewhat misleading to be sure-- this is not a 'sharknado' story or something about a killer storm, but rather focuses upon a covert medical research center located in an old mental hospital in Eureka, California with a hurricane as backdrop. The story shifts POVs often and I would be hard pressed to name a lead character as there are so many leads here. We have, for example, a vloger and crew, a psycho cop and his 'buddy' from high school, a rich bigot with a militia, a single mom on an illicit errand, the docs and such at the hospital, a homeless ex-drug dealer and his crazy son and crew as well as a host of secondary characters.
This starts slow as Garton introduces everyone. There is a major hurricane bearing down on Eureka and the entire novel takes place in under 24 hours. Lots of homeless people have been disappearing from the streets of Eureka and environs and the vloger suspects something whatever kind of medical research is going on at the hospital has something to do with it; so does the guy with the militia. You know things are going to come to a head sooner or later, but Garton takes us on a grisly journey before the final denouement.
A pretty fun read, albeit nothing really new or novel about it. The detailed character development is rather a mixed bag-- slows the story down but it does give some depth to the characters, however shallow that depth is. The leads were all basically stereotypes with a bit of a twist; for example, the conservative bigot with the militia really cares for the homeless and does a lot to help them get back on their feet. All in all, a fun read, but nothing really to write home about. The 'extra' story tacked on the end was fun, but psycho cops are creepy. 3 stars.
This starts slow as Garton introduces everyone. There is a major hurricane bearing down on Eureka and the entire novel takes place in under 24 hours. Lots of homeless people have been disappearing from the streets of Eureka and environs and the vloger suspects something whatever kind of medical research is going on at the hospital has something to do with it; so does the guy with the militia. You know things are going to come to a head sooner or later, but Garton takes us on a grisly journey before the final denouement.
A pretty fun read, albeit nothing really new or novel about it. The detailed character development is rather a mixed bag-- slows the story down but it does give some depth to the characters, however shallow that depth is. The leads were all basically stereotypes with a bit of a twist; for example, the conservative bigot with the militia really cares for the homeless and does a lot to help them get back on their feet. All in all, a fun read, but nothing really to write home about. The 'extra' story tacked on the end was fun, but psycho cops are creepy. 3 stars.
May 28, 2023
A bit misleading title. I thought it would read like a cheesy SyFy movie but instead it was more of a decent 80’s or 90’s horror movie. Several people’s lives become entangled as an unprecedented hurricane takes aim at the US’s western coast. Drug dealers, mad scientists, a crazy cop, conspiracy theorists and homeless advocates all come together for and enjoyably creepy and dread filled horror tale.
The bonus short story is also excellent as it looks at the horrors that my pop up on an innocent cul-de-sac and how the neighbors react.
The bonus short story is also excellent as it looks at the horrors that my pop up on an innocent cul-de-sac and how the neighbors react.
February 13, 2017
Wow, there are seven of these. I saw the Stephen King recommends...which has so often led me to terrible books, but some fantastic ones too. And well the title and cover--I would have to read something like that. Is the storm man-made by crazed scientist? Somehow imbued with evil a la Christine? Sentient?
No to all of the above, but a massive hurricane is about to beat down on the California coast at the same time as a whole bunch of unfortunate incidents. A secret government lab has been kidnapping homeless people, snatching them off the streets in a van, to infect them with a rage-induced 28 days virus and pit them against each other for sport in the sub-basements. The government scientists are too busy doing coke and having bathroom orgies to prepare for the storm, board up the windows, secure the tons of infected homeless they have, or make sure that they have a working back-up generator.
The Alex Jones like radio host, who does conspiracy podcasts, teams up with nationally renowned homophobe and men's rights activist, who is also a Batmanesque billionaire, with his militia of homeless veterans to investigate the government compound...JUST AS THE STORM HITS! Meanwhile, we follow the adventures of a single black mother who is unwillingly doing a delivery for a drug dealer because her baby needs expensive medical procedure and she doesn't have insurance. We also track the happenings of sad divorced dad who lost the custody of his child to his meth using bitch ex-wife who lied to get sole custody, who asks his old childhood bully, now cop, for help. (Oops to all that)
As the book established all of the above, I asked myself, am I about to get into Werewolf Cop territory? Really, all the back stories made me raise eyebrows galore. But no, it was at most, at it's worst moments, a were-pup. Werewolf Cop can rest easy that it's still the worst alt-right thriller I've accidentally read. Besides the backstories, the story runs at a fast clip and he does action very well.
You can pretty much guess what happens if all the above converges at one spot, at the same time as a category 5 storm. Yes, the prisoners get out and start infecting people and running amok. Yes, the druggie wife pays dearly. Yes, the nefarious government sends a kill squad to eliminate all the witnesses. The best passages really are the storm. And I'm not being facetious--I wish there was actually more storm related carnage. And the book would have been a whole lot better if the subplots of psycho cop/sad dad & I-thought-CA-had-good-insurance?-Mom were taken out and if it just focused on the hospital. He said like 30 militia went in, and 9 came out--show us way more of what happened then instead of "Oh haven't heard back from the team that checked that eastern stairwell" exposition.
I will actually read the next one though, because I see it got even higher reviews than this one and for schlock it's surprisingly fun.
No to all of the above, but a massive hurricane is about to beat down on the California coast at the same time as a whole bunch of unfortunate incidents. A secret government lab has been kidnapping homeless people, snatching them off the streets in a van, to infect them with a rage-induced 28 days virus and pit them against each other for sport in the sub-basements. The government scientists are too busy doing coke and having bathroom orgies to prepare for the storm, board up the windows, secure the tons of infected homeless they have, or make sure that they have a working back-up generator.
The Alex Jones like radio host, who does conspiracy podcasts, teams up with nationally renowned homophobe and men's rights activist, who is also a Batmanesque billionaire, with his militia of homeless veterans to investigate the government compound...JUST AS THE STORM HITS! Meanwhile, we follow the adventures of a single black mother who is unwillingly doing a delivery for a drug dealer because her baby needs expensive medical procedure and she doesn't have insurance. We also track the happenings of sad divorced dad who lost the custody of his child to his meth using bitch ex-wife who lied to get sole custody, who asks his old childhood bully, now cop, for help. (Oops to all that)
As the book established all of the above, I asked myself, am I about to get into Werewolf Cop territory? Really, all the back stories made me raise eyebrows galore. But no, it was at most, at it's worst moments, a were-pup. Werewolf Cop can rest easy that it's still the worst alt-right thriller I've accidentally read. Besides the backstories, the story runs at a fast clip and he does action very well.
You can pretty much guess what happens if all the above converges at one spot, at the same time as a category 5 storm. Yes, the prisoners get out and start infecting people and running amok. Yes, the druggie wife pays dearly. Yes, the nefarious government sends a kill squad to eliminate all the witnesses. The best passages really are the storm. And I'm not being facetious--I wish there was actually more storm related carnage. And the book would have been a whole lot better if the subplots of psycho cop/sad dad & I-thought-CA-had-good-insurance?-Mom were taken out and if it just focused on the hospital. He said like 30 militia went in, and 9 came out--show us way more of what happened then instead of "Oh haven't heard back from the team that checked that eastern stairwell" exposition.
I will actually read the next one though, because I see it got even higher reviews than this one and for schlock it's surprisingly fun.
January 22, 2023
This book was listened as one of eleven books that's"scared Stephen King." He even wrote a recommendation himself and I fell for it because I have read a few of the books and liked them so why not? We'll, I should have skipped this one because it was AWFUL... So poorly written and even more poorly edited. It has a decent plot but that spins quickly out of control kinda like the massive hurricane the book is supposed to be about. Just skip this one.
November 30, 2014
Load of old tosh. Shallow characters, an irritating tendency to rely on cliffhanger chapter endings, and at the end he clearly got bored with his own story because he resorted to the easy option of killing off most of his characters. I'm embarrassed that I bothered to read this in the first place. In fact why did I?
October 16, 2015
The big problem with this book is the number of characters that we are following. There was the guy at the radio station, Ivan, who was investigating what illegal activities were going on at the old mental hospital. Ollie, defender of the homeless who is determined to rescue his people who are being kidnapped and experimented on. Fara, the doctor working on the experiments who is having a crisis of conscience and wants out. Latrice, who is delivering an illegal package to get money for medical bills. Andy,who is determined to get his son away from his ex. Mad scientist Jeremy. Hank, a patient in the hospital. Ollie's men. Emilio, the guy Ivan planted at the hospital. Mike from the radio station. Will and Margaret the homeless friends. And so on.
The problem? Lets take the example of Latrice. On pages 33-35 we get the reason for her driving as the hurricane approaches. It's page 64 before we go back to her, still driving and reaching her destination on page 72. We next see her on page 122-127 getting invited inside the house and waiting for her money. Things are going so slow That I'm left wondering WHY she features at all. Nothing much has happened with her until she is dodging bullets between pages 149-152. So I'm not getting much chance to engage in her problems or care about her. Andy suffers a similar fate as he goes to get his son. His appearances are spaced out and I don't get into his story either. He's just some guy with custody issues who we don't get to know. A lot of these side stories are totally irrelevant when the story that matters is at the facility.
This book is trying to be The Stand by Stephen King, weaving together the stories of a whole bunch of strangers, joined by one event. But as this is a shorter book, some of the chapters are only three pages before we get 6 chapters of the other characters then switch back again. The author isn't taking time to get you caring about the characters and for me there are too many stories going on. I think it would have worked better if we had those inside the facility, and Ivan outside, trying to find out what is going on. The rest of the stuff for me was a bit pointless.
As we don't get much development of the other characters, it's only those involved in the facility that get enough 'airtime'. I liked Ollie because he gave a damn about the missing homeless and dedicated himself to looking after veterans. He's the only one I really gave a damn about. He wasn't just going to sit around while everyone else looked the other way. He was going to go and save his people. Yeah! Ollie Schwarzenegger!
I did NOT like moaning faced Fara. She goes about the facility, tutting and grimacing about the terrible experiments that are going on, and despite reporting the mad scientist several times, she's still there assisting him with his project. She only decides to do something about it when she finds Emilio snooping in her office. When she realises she is rumbled for being part of it, THEN she decides to tell the truth about the experiments. It is of course too late to warn Ollie about the infected as he is already storming the building with his men! Nope, didn't like her. And as usual, the cops are all racists and psychos. Gah!
I couldn't get into this novel at all. If it had just focused on the virus and the raid, it could have been a good read. Those segments were certainly the most interesting, but we kept going away from that to other stories of other people which had no real appeal for me. It broke up the flow of the book, having never ending POV changes and it made it a bit frustrating.
Not a great book for me but there is potential for good stories from this author if he reduces his cast of thousands.
The problem? Lets take the example of Latrice. On pages 33-35 we get the reason for her driving as the hurricane approaches. It's page 64 before we go back to her, still driving and reaching her destination on page 72. We next see her on page 122-127 getting invited inside the house and waiting for her money. Things are going so slow That I'm left wondering WHY she features at all. Nothing much has happened with her until she is dodging bullets between pages 149-152. So I'm not getting much chance to engage in her problems or care about her. Andy suffers a similar fate as he goes to get his son. His appearances are spaced out and I don't get into his story either. He's just some guy with custody issues who we don't get to know. A lot of these side stories are totally irrelevant when the story that matters is at the facility.
This book is trying to be The Stand by Stephen King, weaving together the stories of a whole bunch of strangers, joined by one event. But as this is a shorter book, some of the chapters are only three pages before we get 6 chapters of the other characters then switch back again. The author isn't taking time to get you caring about the characters and for me there are too many stories going on. I think it would have worked better if we had those inside the facility, and Ivan outside, trying to find out what is going on. The rest of the stuff for me was a bit pointless.
As we don't get much development of the other characters, it's only those involved in the facility that get enough 'airtime'. I liked Ollie because he gave a damn about the missing homeless and dedicated himself to looking after veterans. He's the only one I really gave a damn about. He wasn't just going to sit around while everyone else looked the other way. He was going to go and save his people. Yeah! Ollie Schwarzenegger!
I did NOT like moaning faced Fara. She goes about the facility, tutting and grimacing about the terrible experiments that are going on, and despite reporting the mad scientist several times, she's still there assisting him with his project. She only decides to do something about it when she finds Emilio snooping in her office. When she realises she is rumbled for being part of it, THEN she decides to tell the truth about the experiments. It is of course too late to warn Ollie about the infected as he is already storming the building with his men! Nope, didn't like her. And as usual, the cops are all racists and psychos. Gah!
I couldn't get into this novel at all. If it had just focused on the virus and the raid, it could have been a good read. Those segments were certainly the most interesting, but we kept going away from that to other stories of other people which had no real appeal for me. It broke up the flow of the book, having never ending POV changes and it made it a bit frustrating.
Not a great book for me but there is potential for good stories from this author if he reduces his cast of thousands.
July 20, 2014
Homeless people have been disappearing off the streets of Eureka, California and some conspiracy buffs are convinced they have been kidnapped, taken to a supposedly abandoned psychiatric facility and are now being used as guinea pigs in a very disturbing military experiment. The conspiracists decide to mount a rescue operation just as the worst storm in recorded history is bearing down on them. At the same time, in another part of town, a deputy sheriff with a decidedly psychopathic bent is having a very bad day. When he runs into Andy, an old ‘friend�, and his son, he decides to take the pair on his own version of patrol � whether they want to go or not. Needless to say, these two events are heading for a collision of epic proportions and things will go horribly wrong for everyone concerned.
Okay, so admittedly, this all sounds like one of those wild and wacky shows from the Syfy channel like Sharknado known mostly for their absolute over-the-top violence, gore, and crazy and their complete and utter disregard for the laws of, well, anything. And there is no question that there are some of these syfy or, if you prefer, scifi elements in Frankenstorm, the latest from author Ray Garton.
However, more than anything, Frankenstorm is horror and, like the first Frankenstein tale that pitted man against science and man against man, it makes the point that science without ethics and people without morals are both terrible to behold. And what makes these tales so horrifying is the very real possibilities they offer; we all know a story like Sharknado’s just make-believe (thank goodness because that would be really messed up) but, let’s face it, even those of us who don’t think fluoride in the water is a secret government conspiracy (to do what we don’t know but it’s got to be really bad because, ya know, government) do wonder occasionally what new horrors science may unleash upon the world in the name of National Defence.
But put aside the scary possibilities it evokes or, for that matter, the impossibilities, Frankenstorm is one heck of a thrill ride. It’s chock full of really bad bad guys and some very eccentric but likable good guys who, despite their love of conspiracies, are just your everyday Joes willing to do what they think is right no matter the risk. It is also one heck of a pageturner with pretty much non-stop action. Throw in a scumbag scientist with a sex and drugs addiction, some rampaging zombies, and a virus that, if set loose from the lab, can destroy us all and you’ve got one fun read.
Okay, so admittedly, this all sounds like one of those wild and wacky shows from the Syfy channel like Sharknado known mostly for their absolute over-the-top violence, gore, and crazy and their complete and utter disregard for the laws of, well, anything. And there is no question that there are some of these syfy or, if you prefer, scifi elements in Frankenstorm, the latest from author Ray Garton.
However, more than anything, Frankenstorm is horror and, like the first Frankenstein tale that pitted man against science and man against man, it makes the point that science without ethics and people without morals are both terrible to behold. And what makes these tales so horrifying is the very real possibilities they offer; we all know a story like Sharknado’s just make-believe (thank goodness because that would be really messed up) but, let’s face it, even those of us who don’t think fluoride in the water is a secret government conspiracy (to do what we don’t know but it’s got to be really bad because, ya know, government) do wonder occasionally what new horrors science may unleash upon the world in the name of National Defence.
But put aside the scary possibilities it evokes or, for that matter, the impossibilities, Frankenstorm is one heck of a thrill ride. It’s chock full of really bad bad guys and some very eccentric but likable good guys who, despite their love of conspiracies, are just your everyday Joes willing to do what they think is right no matter the risk. It is also one heck of a pageturner with pretty much non-stop action. Throw in a scumbag scientist with a sex and drugs addiction, some rampaging zombies, and a virus that, if set loose from the lab, can destroy us all and you’ve got one fun read.
July 7, 2015
I'm not sure where to start this review of "Frankenstorm". First off, the title will be enough of a grabber to at least get people to read the blurb on the back of the book where they will also see plugs from such notables as Stephen King and Dean Koontz.
There's a LOT of stuff going on in this book. To begin with, there is a (rare) Category 4 hurricane that threatens to wipe the city of Eureka, CA off the map. Outside the city limits, there is a basement full of genetically altered homeless people who have been used as guinea pigs in a government experience to create a new military weapon. Oh yeah, there's a mad scientist who's behind these experiments. There's a paramilitary unit with the goal of freeing the homeless captives. How about a deranged sheriff's deputy who's already killed his wife and child and now decides to start taking the law into his own hands? And, not to be forgotten, a down-on-her-luck woman who agrees to deliver a package to a group of drug dealings only to generate enough cash to help pay for her crippled son's medical bills. And certainly not to be left out, a father who rescues his son from his doped-up ex-wife, but soon finds himself in an even more dangerous situation.
Somehow, author Ray Garton keeps all of the parts of this plot in the air at the same time. The book was originally released as a serial novel, so each major section ends with a cliffhanger of sorts. The story does just fine as a complete book.
It would take too much space to try and explain how all of these different characters come together in this plot, so I will refrain from attempting to do that. Just let it be said, that the book is difficult to put down, even though there are parts that make it wholly unbelievable.
The ending seemed a little rushed and too pat for my liking, but this is a solid thriller that will satisfy Garton's fans and the casual reader alike.
There's a LOT of stuff going on in this book. To begin with, there is a (rare) Category 4 hurricane that threatens to wipe the city of Eureka, CA off the map. Outside the city limits, there is a basement full of genetically altered homeless people who have been used as guinea pigs in a government experience to create a new military weapon. Oh yeah, there's a mad scientist who's behind these experiments. There's a paramilitary unit with the goal of freeing the homeless captives. How about a deranged sheriff's deputy who's already killed his wife and child and now decides to start taking the law into his own hands? And, not to be forgotten, a down-on-her-luck woman who agrees to deliver a package to a group of drug dealings only to generate enough cash to help pay for her crippled son's medical bills. And certainly not to be left out, a father who rescues his son from his doped-up ex-wife, but soon finds himself in an even more dangerous situation.
Somehow, author Ray Garton keeps all of the parts of this plot in the air at the same time. The book was originally released as a serial novel, so each major section ends with a cliffhanger of sorts. The story does just fine as a complete book.
It would take too much space to try and explain how all of these different characters come together in this plot, so I will refrain from attempting to do that. Just let it be said, that the book is difficult to put down, even though there are parts that make it wholly unbelievable.
The ending seemed a little rushed and too pat for my liking, but this is a solid thriller that will satisfy Garton's fans and the casual reader alike.
March 24, 2016
First off...Great book! The premise is pretty disturbing. The (dreaded) Government is at it again. They are developing a biological weapon to beat all biological weapons. They've hired this doctor, who is suffering from serious drug addiction, to develop a weapon that will make people sick, and then go into a murderous rage. This doctor isn't interested in testing on rabbits and mice. He wants the real deal. So, he hires men to take the homeless off the streets and into the labs. They are located in an abandoned hospital (naturally). Everyone still thinks it's abandoned, because the doctor has the back of the hospital, that is conveniently located in deep woods, as their entrance and has his subjects located in back. There are a few that are worried about the homeless. In particular, a certain conspiracy theorist who thinks the Government is responsible for everything, including this dilemma. So, he decides to break them out. He is convinced that they are in there, so he brings his other heavily armed homeless buddies to storm the gates and save the homeless from whatever is going on. They happen upon another doctor who is sick of doing this to innocent people. She quickly chooses to be on their side, as she tells them everything that this crazy doctor is doing. Letting these people out is just a bad, bad idea. They are already infected, and react violently against the people hat are trying to save them. Things get bloody and scary from there. I loved this idea for this book. I wasn't really rooting for anyone, though. Some of the characters were a little cliché, but tolerable. I liked the story line a lot more then I liked the characters, however. That being said, it was still a great book. Oh, dear! I forgot! There is also a cat 5 hurricane going on during all the fun in the hospital. That made the story a lot better. More action. Who can resist murderous homeless test subjects in a frickin' hurricane? Not me!
September 3, 2019
Like many others, I found out about this because I read an article that listed 11 books that,"Scared the Hell Out of Stephen King", and this was one of the 11. Now over all years I've learned not to trust Stephen King's endorsements,( If I had a quarter for every johnny Come lately that he called "The Master of Macabre", I could buy a case of Blue Moon. But this one was actually really, really good
The Bay area of Northern California is about to be hit by a monster of a hurricane,(Or is it a Typhoon? I guess it all depends on Geography). Anyway the hurricane/typhoon isn't the main antagonist like I thought it would be, instead it just kinda hangs around the back ground while the rest of the story unfolds around the real main/secondary antagonists which are some homemade well they're not really zombies but they're kind of like zombies, and a psycho cop that makes the security guard in "P2" look like a teddy bear.
I'm not sure if all editions have it, but my kindle edition came with a bonus story that was dark, disturbing and really good. It kind of reminded me of the Twilight Zone's "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street"
The Bay area of Northern California is about to be hit by a monster of a hurricane,(Or is it a Typhoon? I guess it all depends on Geography). Anyway the hurricane/typhoon isn't the main antagonist like I thought it would be, instead it just kinda hangs around the back ground while the rest of the story unfolds around the real main/secondary antagonists which are some homemade well they're not really zombies but they're kind of like zombies, and a psycho cop that makes the security guard in "P2" look like a teddy bear.
I'm not sure if all editions have it, but my kindle edition came with a bonus story that was dark, disturbing and really good. It kind of reminded me of the Twilight Zone's "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street"
August 30, 2019
Throwback style disaster story updated for the 21st century. Although the storm only plays a small roll in the mayhem that ensues. The story line revolves around an old mental hospital that is part of a secret project. Homeless people are disappearing and being infected with a maddening disease there. A crazy doctor, his moral assistant and a janitor are the main characters here. An internet talk show host and a wealthy right wing, pro homeless man with a militia that plans on rescuing said homeless are another sub plot. A distraught man with child custody problems and the cop who use to bully him growing up make the third tip of the story triangle.
Once this thing starts rolling along, it starts to crash through you like it's name sake. It's a great non stop ride that kept me guessing with each chapter. excellent book.
Once this thing starts rolling along, it starts to crash through you like it's name sake. It's a great non stop ride that kept me guessing with each chapter. excellent book.
March 5, 2014
This review is based on the serial novel as released in January & February of 2014.
All in all, a pretty good read. I have read other Ray Garton books that I liked more but this one was OK.
There are basically 3 or 4 major groups of characters involved in the story. The actions of one group can have a ripple effect on other groups, which is an aspect I did enjoy very much. However, for me, sometimes it seemed like there were almost too many characters to keep track of. That's certainly not to say that Garton doesn't make them interesting. I just think it made it difficult for me to get as invested in any of the characters as much as I did in Ravenous/Bestial or Live Girls/Night Life.
Still, this is a book by Ray Garton, so you can't go wrong, no matter what. Check it out.
All in all, a pretty good read. I have read other Ray Garton books that I liked more but this one was OK.
There are basically 3 or 4 major groups of characters involved in the story. The actions of one group can have a ripple effect on other groups, which is an aspect I did enjoy very much. However, for me, sometimes it seemed like there were almost too many characters to keep track of. That's certainly not to say that Garton doesn't make them interesting. I just think it made it difficult for me to get as invested in any of the characters as much as I did in Ravenous/Bestial or Live Girls/Night Life.
Still, this is a book by Ray Garton, so you can't go wrong, no matter what. Check it out.
November 4, 2014
Have to admit I read this one because Stephen King himself recommended it, and I say, "Thank you, sir." I really enjoyed reading the story with the full characters, crazy weather, and scary plot.
February 16, 2023
Northern California is preparing for a rare hurricane, Hurricane Quentin is coming. A category 8 hurricane is coming and no one is prepared. An outspoken conservative radio show host, Ollie Monk also launches a raid on a secret government facility in town, one which involves experimental testing on homeless people, and he releases them to the public. Now the hurricane is waging it's war on Eureka, California at the same time that a biological war is also happening...
Gimme a break. Where do I begin with this mess. I wanted to like this book. I wanted a guilty pleasure type of scary book to read. But this book has so many glaring errors left and right and the heavy-handed character development was just too much. One character was given a paragraph of backstory, in which he married, had a home and a career, and then lost his wife to cancer and subsequently his home and became homeless in less words than I am writing here. Seriously. He is using a paint-roller for characterization where he should be using an artist's finest-tipped paint-brush.
And then there is the matter of the hurricane. One could excuse Mr. Garton for not necessarily having experienced a hurricane. But this book was published in 2014: the internet has long been in existence and information is everywhere. On one page, he lists the hurricane as a Category EIGHT. (The scale goes to 5) No one has hurricane shutters on their windows or doors. There are all sorts of things left outside, like trash barrels. In one instance, a character describes driving down the road and "a gust of wind buffeting her car" (a single gust of wind, now). Rain is light. There is lightning in this hurricane. And oh yes, they are *starting to evacuate* while the storm is just getting started.
There's probably many more errors than this, this is just where I gave up. I made it to page 50. And then I just couldn't do it anymore. I tried. I really, really tried to suspend my disbelief. Because I really wanted to read some scary, guilty pleasure for the next few days, but this book was not it. Sorry folks.
Gimme a break. Where do I begin with this mess. I wanted to like this book. I wanted a guilty pleasure type of scary book to read. But this book has so many glaring errors left and right and the heavy-handed character development was just too much. One character was given a paragraph of backstory, in which he married, had a home and a career, and then lost his wife to cancer and subsequently his home and became homeless in less words than I am writing here. Seriously. He is using a paint-roller for characterization where he should be using an artist's finest-tipped paint-brush.
And then there is the matter of the hurricane. One could excuse Mr. Garton for not necessarily having experienced a hurricane. But this book was published in 2014: the internet has long been in existence and information is everywhere. On one page, he lists the hurricane as a Category EIGHT. (The scale goes to 5) No one has hurricane shutters on their windows or doors. There are all sorts of things left outside, like trash barrels. In one instance, a character describes driving down the road and "a gust of wind buffeting her car" (a single gust of wind, now). Rain is light. There is lightning in this hurricane. And oh yes, they are *starting to evacuate* while the storm is just getting started.
There's probably many more errors than this, this is just where I gave up. I made it to page 50. And then I just couldn't do it anymore. I tried. I really, really tried to suspend my disbelief. Because I really wanted to read some scary, guilty pleasure for the next few days, but this book was not it. Sorry folks.
September 25, 2020
Frankenstorm by Ray Gorton is a fun book recommended by Stephen King.
There is a massive hurricane heading for the West coast of the United States.
There is a compound that is said to be working on vaccines but is actually using homeless people as guinea pigs in an effort to create a virus to be used as a chemical weapon.
There is a veteran who cares for the homes who figures out what is going on and breaks in with a bunch of other men.
There is a man trying to get his son back from his drug addicted ex-wife
And there is a sheriff who says he’ll help the man, but it turns out he is an insane murderer.
And these things are all happening at the same time.
The edition of the book I read came with a bonus story about what can happen when you seek vengeance.
I enjoyed the book and the story, though I was thinking it would be more frightening. It is very well written, and the characters are believable.
Enjoy.
[This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.com.]
There is a massive hurricane heading for the West coast of the United States.
There is a compound that is said to be working on vaccines but is actually using homeless people as guinea pigs in an effort to create a virus to be used as a chemical weapon.
There is a veteran who cares for the homes who figures out what is going on and breaks in with a bunch of other men.
There is a man trying to get his son back from his drug addicted ex-wife
And there is a sheriff who says he’ll help the man, but it turns out he is an insane murderer.
And these things are all happening at the same time.
The edition of the book I read came with a bonus story about what can happen when you seek vengeance.
I enjoyed the book and the story, though I was thinking it would be more frightening. It is very well written, and the characters are believable.
Enjoy.
[This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.com.]
January 11, 2019
After a decade of primarily reading academic books, 2018 was the year that I finally fell back in love with fiction. And I fell hard. Not that I haven't read fiction in the past ten years—I always pick up the new Stephen King and gorge on it—but to read voraciously is something that I have not had time to do, sad to say. Lying down for four hours and not moving, but, instead, being moved by story, is a luxury I shall never forget in a hurry.
What do I read? I tend to nip at the heels at various genres, including horror, science fiction and crime, but would like to think I am culturally omnivorous. Twitter has been a gold-mine for recommendations from different reading communities, although I am generally indifferent to social media nowadays.
I first heard about Ray Garton from none other than Stephen King, and who am I to turn a deaf ear to the master of horror? (King does blurb quite a few books and I can't seem to resist his words of wisdom).
In any case, Ray Garton's Frankenstorm is pulp fiction at its best, and I don't use the term 'pulp' with any apologies or prejudices. Most novels stem from the well that is pulp, after all. Frankenstorm races along at a clip, and I gulped it down in two sittings. Garton is now on my horizon and I am currently trawling his back catalogue in order to catch up on what I have missed. (I did similar with Bentley Little). Highly recommended.
What do I read? I tend to nip at the heels at various genres, including horror, science fiction and crime, but would like to think I am culturally omnivorous. Twitter has been a gold-mine for recommendations from different reading communities, although I am generally indifferent to social media nowadays.
I first heard about Ray Garton from none other than Stephen King, and who am I to turn a deaf ear to the master of horror? (King does blurb quite a few books and I can't seem to resist his words of wisdom).
In any case, Ray Garton's Frankenstorm is pulp fiction at its best, and I don't use the term 'pulp' with any apologies or prejudices. Most novels stem from the well that is pulp, after all. Frankenstorm races along at a clip, and I gulped it down in two sittings. Garton is now on my horizon and I am currently trawling his back catalogue in order to catch up on what I have missed. (I did similar with Bentley Little). Highly recommended.
December 29, 2024
3.5 rounded up. I liked it, not a huge amount of the book is about the storm, as I expected, but it does come into play in the last part of the story. There are a few different characters to follow and some are pretty intruiging, some I didn't care about, not a huge amount of character development in them all. The part about the scientists and what they're up to is okay, but we there is not much explaination about what they have been doing there. Interesting, but could use some more details filled in.
May 4, 2017
Not as scary as the hype, but definitely action packed. Came with a bonus short story. A small town taken over by a pharmacy company working experiments, and a major category storm headed their way. What could possibly go wrong? Interesting concepts, full characters, and ultimately justice is served. A little graphic, but good read.
September 29, 2018
Fast paced and fun read. The characters were great and well thought out. The plot was great. I was not overly thrilled with the ending (it was too quick and, to me, came across as a ran out of time situation) but I’d definitely read a sequel if one were to come about.
Read
July 16, 2019Should have been called Franken-hopsital.
The majority of the story is a Frankenstein type of doctor experimenting on the homeless.
The storm itself is just in the background of the story.
Otherwise, it's a simple story, not that scary, reminded me of a Richard Laymon story.
The majority of the story is a Frankenstein type of doctor experimenting on the homeless.
The storm itself is just in the background of the story.
Otherwise, it's a simple story, not that scary, reminded me of a Richard Laymon story.
March 28, 2021
Well written but I felt the premise really fails to live up to its potential. Lot of extraneous characters and plotlines, and the ending feels like the writer lost interest and just wanted to wrap things up.
March 23, 2017
Not my usual reading fare but once I was into it, I couldn't put it down.
January 12, 2018
I won't be reading any more of Ray Gartons books.
to bloody.
to bloody.
February 13, 2018
good story line, but there were a good bit of POV changes mid scene and too much head hopping for my taste
May 31, 2018
This was the literary equivalent of SyFy original movies.
July 11, 2018
I read this because it was on a list of horror books recommended by Stephen King. It was good storytelling but not really scary and not anything special, imo.
November 16, 2018
Fast pace mindless entertainment. Exactly what I wanted right now.
March 29, 2019
This was a page turner... I could not put it down!
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