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Andrew Z. Thomas/Luther Kite #1
Desert Places
"Greetings. There is a body buried on your property, covered in your blood. The unfortunate young lady's name is Rita Jones. In her jeans pocket you'll find a slip of paper with a phone number on it. Call that number. If I have not heard from you by 8:00 P.M., the police will receive an anonymous call. I'll tell them where Rita Jones is buried on your property, how you killed her, and where the murder weapon can be found in your house. (I do believe a paring knife is missing from your kitchen.) I strongly advise against going to the police, as I am always watching you."
Dear Reader: Please keep the light on tonight. What happens next will scare you. Guaranteed.
In one of the most chilling debuts of the year, Blake Crouch tells a tale that shatters the boundaries of fear. Caution: You've Been Warned--Read at Your Own Risk! Andrew Z. Thomas is a successful writer of suspense thrillers, living the dream at his lake house in the piedmont of North Carolina. One afternoon in late spring, he receives a bizarre letter that eventually threatens his career, his sanity, and the lives of everyone he loves. A murderer is designing his future, and for the life of him, Andrew can't get away. An edge-of-your-seat thriller, Desert Places, introduces the American public to a new suspense writer who will be scaring us all for years to come.
Dear Reader: Please keep the light on tonight. What happens next will scare you. Guaranteed.
In one of the most chilling debuts of the year, Blake Crouch tells a tale that shatters the boundaries of fear. Caution: You've Been Warned--Read at Your Own Risk! Andrew Z. Thomas is a successful writer of suspense thrillers, living the dream at his lake house in the piedmont of North Carolina. One afternoon in late spring, he receives a bizarre letter that eventually threatens his career, his sanity, and the lives of everyone he loves. A murderer is designing his future, and for the life of him, Andrew can't get away. An edge-of-your-seat thriller, Desert Places, introduces the American public to a new suspense writer who will be scaring us all for years to come.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2004
1,877 people are currently reading
7,221 people want to read
About the author
Blake Crouch
88books56.3kfollowersBlake Crouch is a bestselling novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of the forthcoming novel, Dark Matter, for which he is writing the screenplay for Sony Pictures. His international-bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy was adapted into a television series for FOX, executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan, that was Summer 2015’s #1 show. With Chad Hodge, Crouch also created Good Behavior, the TNT television show starring Michelle Dockery based on his Letty Dobesh novellas. He has written more than a dozen novels that have been translated into over thirty languages and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Crouch lives in Colorado with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 751 reviews
March 13, 2025
Co to było
August 7, 2018
BEFORE WAYWARD PINES THERE WAS DESERT PLACES
”What did Keats say? It’s beauty. Not just pretty truth. We have black hearts, but they’re beautiful.�
When Andrew Z. Thomas receives a bizarre letter in his mailbox explaining that there is a dead girl buried on his property, soaked in his blood, he at first thinks it is a prank being perpetrated by one of his fans. He is a horror writer and used to receiving...unusual...letters, but this one was different. After several stages of smirking at the audacity and shivering at the thought that it may be true, he finally grabs a shovel and follows the directions to the spot where the body is supposed to be.
The ground is soft.
He
digs
up
a
body
covered in blood.
Most people would throw themselves on the mercy of law enforcement, but the letter specifically says if he doesn’t do what the killer wants, irrefutable evidence will be sent to the police.
Andy doesn’t want to go to jail.
He has made a living out of understanding evidence and even understanding how it can be fabricated. He decides to play along and see what this madman wants. In other words, he knows just enough to get himself, much, much deeper in trouble.
It can’t get much deeper than when he finds himself locked in a room in the middle of the desert under the complete control of the killer. He is being forced to read books from Poe to Plato. He is being programmed, but for what? Andy will be faced with more and more decisions, big decisions, life changing decisions. Can he live with what he will have to do to overcome his adversary? Is it always worthwhile to live? Is murder really the worst crime against humanity?
The publisher sent me a signed copy of this back in 2002. I didn’t really give it much thought. I just shelved it and thought at some point in time I would be in the right mood to read it. Recently, as I was organizing my library, and finally, for the first time in my life alphabetizing my books, I came across this book again. I’d kept it all these years because it was the author’s first book, but until I started watching Wayword Pines two weeks ago, I hadn’t put it together that I had the Pines guy’s first book. I decided while waiting for my copy of Pines to give Crouch’s first book a whirl.
Despite the fact that I absolutely disagreed with Andy’s line of thinking, I still couldn’t help but hang around and see how everything was going to work out for him. The book is certainly thrilling, at times grotesque, but not as graphic as I feared. The pacing was good and kept the pages turning. It certainly has made me more curious about what to expect from Pines. If you are looking for a quick, compelling read that will leave you with lingering thoughts about the true sanctity of life, then this book will do nicely.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:
”What did Keats say? It’s beauty. Not just pretty truth. We have black hearts, but they’re beautiful.�
When Andrew Z. Thomas receives a bizarre letter in his mailbox explaining that there is a dead girl buried on his property, soaked in his blood, he at first thinks it is a prank being perpetrated by one of his fans. He is a horror writer and used to receiving...unusual...letters, but this one was different. After several stages of smirking at the audacity and shivering at the thought that it may be true, he finally grabs a shovel and follows the directions to the spot where the body is supposed to be.
The ground is soft.
He
digs
up
a
body
covered in blood.
Most people would throw themselves on the mercy of law enforcement, but the letter specifically says if he doesn’t do what the killer wants, irrefutable evidence will be sent to the police.
Andy doesn’t want to go to jail.
He has made a living out of understanding evidence and even understanding how it can be fabricated. He decides to play along and see what this madman wants. In other words, he knows just enough to get himself, much, much deeper in trouble.
It can’t get much deeper than when he finds himself locked in a room in the middle of the desert under the complete control of the killer. He is being forced to read books from Poe to Plato. He is being programmed, but for what? Andy will be faced with more and more decisions, big decisions, life changing decisions. Can he live with what he will have to do to overcome his adversary? Is it always worthwhile to live? Is murder really the worst crime against humanity?
The publisher sent me a signed copy of this back in 2002. I didn’t really give it much thought. I just shelved it and thought at some point in time I would be in the right mood to read it. Recently, as I was organizing my library, and finally, for the first time in my life alphabetizing my books, I came across this book again. I’d kept it all these years because it was the author’s first book, but until I started watching Wayword Pines two weeks ago, I hadn’t put it together that I had the Pines guy’s first book. I decided while waiting for my copy of Pines to give Crouch’s first book a whirl.
Despite the fact that I absolutely disagreed with Andy’s line of thinking, I still couldn’t help but hang around and see how everything was going to work out for him. The book is certainly thrilling, at times grotesque, but not as graphic as I feared. The pacing was good and kept the pages turning. It certainly has made me more curious about what to expect from Pines. If you are looking for a quick, compelling read that will leave you with lingering thoughts about the true sanctity of life, then this book will do nicely.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:
November 29, 2021
Dust and Devils
A backstory:
Andrew who is an author is feeling in relaxed mode from the book he just completed, but the relaxation doesn't last for long when he gets an eerie letter in the mail telling him there is a body buried on his property and if he does not call the number on a note that is buried with the body by a certain time then a phone call will be made to the police informing them of the so called body and where it can be found.
Andrew at first thinks it is a joke as he has received weird letters before from readers but just on a hunch he decides to go to the spot where the body is supposed to be buried and notices that something isn't right. When he digs down in that spot and uncovers a body is when he goes into high alert. When he makes the phone call to the person he cannot figure out who it is as their voice is muffled, but when the person tells him that he has to do exactly what is required of him or else the police will become involved, Andrew has no choice but to comply.
Andrew ends up putting his life on hold as he is forced to do what this person wants or else even so much as taking a plane to a specific place to be escorted to meet with this person. When the "person" is finally revealed to be his long lost twin brother (Orson) who everyone thought was dead is when things go into overdrive.
When Andrew sees that there will probably be no escape as the place where Orson is located is out in the desert with no one else around for miles. Andrew finds out that Orson has actually turned into a sadistic serial killer and Andrew wonders if he will make it out of this situation alive or if he will also become one of his brother's victims!
Why did Orson plant the dead body on Andrew's property? Why does Orson go through with an elaborate plan to bring Andrew to him? Does Andrew escape from Orson? No spoilers here as you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
This book is my third Crouch book as I read one of his books a few years back that I really enjoyed and I read another book by him that he collaborated on with three other authors. The writing style is smooth and with this book, something happens right away within the first chapter so there is no time to get all settled in my cozy chair before things go awry right away!
I love the character, Andrew as I could feel the trepidation and anxiety that he was going through as he had to make plans with leaving his life behind temporarily and having to meet up with someone (a stranger) who wouldn't let him know much of nothing of what was in store for him. The pace of the book moves at a great clip and I kept wanting to see what was going to happen next.
The book does escalate when things become topsy turvy for Andrew but the book takes a twisted turn around the 30% mark putting Andrew in control and Orson in dire straits. From that point on in the story I read almost 30% more of the book within just a couple or so hours as the suspenseful twist kept me on the edge of my seat. There are three books in this trilogy, so I will need to continue on with the next book at some point in time as I want to see what happens next for Andrew. Giving this book five "Dark Desert" stars.
For more thoughts with images, please see my blog:
A backstory:
Andrew who is an author is feeling in relaxed mode from the book he just completed, but the relaxation doesn't last for long when he gets an eerie letter in the mail telling him there is a body buried on his property and if he does not call the number on a note that is buried with the body by a certain time then a phone call will be made to the police informing them of the so called body and where it can be found.
Andrew at first thinks it is a joke as he has received weird letters before from readers but just on a hunch he decides to go to the spot where the body is supposed to be buried and notices that something isn't right. When he digs down in that spot and uncovers a body is when he goes into high alert. When he makes the phone call to the person he cannot figure out who it is as their voice is muffled, but when the person tells him that he has to do exactly what is required of him or else the police will become involved, Andrew has no choice but to comply.
Andrew ends up putting his life on hold as he is forced to do what this person wants or else even so much as taking a plane to a specific place to be escorted to meet with this person. When the "person" is finally revealed to be his long lost twin brother (Orson) who everyone thought was dead is when things go into overdrive.
When Andrew sees that there will probably be no escape as the place where Orson is located is out in the desert with no one else around for miles. Andrew finds out that Orson has actually turned into a sadistic serial killer and Andrew wonders if he will make it out of this situation alive or if he will also become one of his brother's victims!
Why did Orson plant the dead body on Andrew's property? Why does Orson go through with an elaborate plan to bring Andrew to him? Does Andrew escape from Orson? No spoilers here as you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
This book is my third Crouch book as I read one of his books a few years back that I really enjoyed and I read another book by him that he collaborated on with three other authors. The writing style is smooth and with this book, something happens right away within the first chapter so there is no time to get all settled in my cozy chair before things go awry right away!
I love the character, Andrew as I could feel the trepidation and anxiety that he was going through as he had to make plans with leaving his life behind temporarily and having to meet up with someone (a stranger) who wouldn't let him know much of nothing of what was in store for him. The pace of the book moves at a great clip and I kept wanting to see what was going to happen next.
The book does escalate when things become topsy turvy for Andrew but the book takes a twisted turn around the 30% mark putting Andrew in control and Orson in dire straits. From that point on in the story I read almost 30% more of the book within just a couple or so hours as the suspenseful twist kept me on the edge of my seat. There are three books in this trilogy, so I will need to continue on with the next book at some point in time as I want to see what happens next for Andrew. Giving this book five "Dark Desert" stars.
For more thoughts with images, please see my blog:
September 14, 2016
This is the fifth book I've read by Blake Crouch - and the only one that's taken me more than a few days to read, for reasons I can't quite ascertain. The story is told from a first person perspective, which I'm not a big fan of - mainly because of the restrictions - and if the character irks you, well, you're stuck with the idiot. Luckily, it worked out okay in this instance. Although, the antagonist was more charismatic than the protagonist. Well, more of an interesting character, anyway.
When suspense author Andrew Z Thomas goes to collect the mail from his lakefront property: he finds two letters; one is a phone bill - and the other is from someone who claims there is a body somewhere on his property covered in his blood, and the person (Rita Jones) was killed with a paring knife that he owns. At first, he thinks its a joke, maybe some crazed fan is messing around with him, but he soon remembers that he does have a paring knife missing from his kitchen and whoever wrote the letter has intimate knowledge of his property.
As the (supposed) body is located on the boundary of his property, he decides to investigate and follows the instructions in the letter - to see if he can find the marker, and its not long before he has a eureka moment - which turns out to be a small red flag attached to a rusted piece of metal stuck in the ground. He notices that the earth has been disturbed and quickly runs back home to retrieve a shovel. And what he finds after digging makes him hyperventilate to the point where his heart is about to explode out of his chest. Once he regains his composure, he retrieves the note from the pocket of the victim - which has a number he has to call.
Anyway, he makes that call - and finds himself in an inexorable situation. He can't go to the police - as people can get indicted with the flimsiest evidence - and the person he spoke to on the phone warns him that he is being watched - that if he doesn't do exactly what he is told, then he's going to take the fall for a crime he didn't commit. Having said that, there is one way out: if he places the barrel of his .357 into his mouth and pulls the trigger - though it would have been a very short story if he did take that option.
I really liked the book. Although, I did have a slight problem with the protagonist's sense of reasoning - especially when the antagonist made a suggestion, which actually made some sense.
When suspense author Andrew Z Thomas goes to collect the mail from his lakefront property: he finds two letters; one is a phone bill - and the other is from someone who claims there is a body somewhere on his property covered in his blood, and the person (Rita Jones) was killed with a paring knife that he owns. At first, he thinks its a joke, maybe some crazed fan is messing around with him, but he soon remembers that he does have a paring knife missing from his kitchen and whoever wrote the letter has intimate knowledge of his property.
As the (supposed) body is located on the boundary of his property, he decides to investigate and follows the instructions in the letter - to see if he can find the marker, and its not long before he has a eureka moment - which turns out to be a small red flag attached to a rusted piece of metal stuck in the ground. He notices that the earth has been disturbed and quickly runs back home to retrieve a shovel. And what he finds after digging makes him hyperventilate to the point where his heart is about to explode out of his chest. Once he regains his composure, he retrieves the note from the pocket of the victim - which has a number he has to call.
Anyway, he makes that call - and finds himself in an inexorable situation. He can't go to the police - as people can get indicted with the flimsiest evidence - and the person he spoke to on the phone warns him that he is being watched - that if he doesn't do exactly what he is told, then he's going to take the fall for a crime he didn't commit. Having said that, there is one way out: if he places the barrel of his .357 into his mouth and pulls the trigger - though it would have been a very short story if he did take that option.
I really liked the book. Although, I did have a slight problem with the protagonist's sense of reasoning - especially when the antagonist made a suggestion, which actually made some sense.
June 23, 2011
I read Abandon by this author and absolutely loved it. Really really did not like this one. Please please give me any reason at all why he didn't just call the cops when he got the note. Please please give me any reason at all why he went to see if the body were really there and then when it was why he dug it up. HONESTLY? Is this guy a moron or what? I never did like him because he was so stupid. Everything he did was stupid and he never had a good reason for any of it. I thought there was going to be a real twist somewhere along the line and that's what kept me reading. I thought his twin was probably dead and he was himself and his twin or something weird like that. Just turns out the guy is a moron. Don't waste your time, it really doesn't get any better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2024
I really like Crouch's work. Until now, I think almost all his books have been of the post-apocalyptic/dystopian and/or sci-fi genre. They've all been thrillers, but this one was set in what you might call "normal" (as in not post-apocalyptic/dystopian times). So it felt a bit more traditional as far as thrillers go.
Book was good and very, very dark. This one actually spiked my blood pressure (or so it felt) when Andy finally tries to take control. Not sure I loved the ending. Book was fairly tight up until the end. I'd say I enjoyed 95% of it, which is why I'll round up to 4. Aside from the ending, there were a couple of device plots that I thought were a bit too convenient (e.g., the fact that Andy and Orson are twins).
I'm also unsure where the sequel will lead, since there aren't any really major loose ends or cliffhangers to pick up. I mean, Andy's life is irrevocably changed, but it's easy enough for me to fill in the blanks of what happens now without a sequel. I guess I'll have to wait and see.
Book was good and very, very dark. This one actually spiked my blood pressure (or so it felt) when Andy finally tries to take control. Not sure I loved the ending. Book was fairly tight up until the end. I'd say I enjoyed 95% of it, which is why I'll round up to 4. Aside from the ending, there were a couple of device plots that I thought were a bit too convenient (e.g., the fact that Andy and Orson are twins).
I'm also unsure where the sequel will lead, since there aren't any really major loose ends or cliffhangers to pick up. I mean, Andy's life is irrevocably changed, but it's easy enough for me to fill in the blanks of what happens now without a sequel. I guess I'll have to wait and see.
July 5, 2020
3.5 stars rounded down, because I hold Crouch to pretty high standards. An early(maybe debut) novel from Crouch and a solid introduction as his writing is a little raw and unpolished all the traits that make him a readable best selling author are present. Warning: potential trigger within in a rape scene that is unsparing as the overall story.
Would recommend with the about caveat.
Would recommend with the about caveat.
October 4, 2010
Excellent book. Raw, taut, suspenseful, shocking, fast paced, terrifying, thrilling, unpredictable, intense and seriously disturbing. I stayed up all night reading it so I could finish. I gave myself a huge headache but it was well worth it.
I've been hoping there'd be a sequel, that's how good it was.
It's earned a rare 5 stars from me.
PS: Forgot to say, this is one of the most violent and disturbing books. If you can't handle serious violence and deeply disturbing situations, then don't read this book.
I've been hoping there'd be a sequel, that's how good it was.
It's earned a rare 5 stars from me.
PS: Forgot to say, this is one of the most violent and disturbing books. If you can't handle serious violence and deeply disturbing situations, then don't read this book.
January 22, 2017
If you ever feel like there isn't enough darkness and depravity in your life, this is the right book for you. There are sections of this book that create disturbing mental images in your head that you can't un-see. Aside from the disturbing nature of the book, the plot-line is forced through the terrible decisions made by the main character. If you have read Blake Crouch's Dark Matter and you are looking for something just as good, look away... far away from Desert Places.
August 24, 2019
This was nowhere near as good as his more recent work. I read it because it has tenuous links to the Jack Daniels series by Konrath with Blake Crouch collaborating later in the series.
January 24, 2013
3.5 Rating
I recently read The Pines by Blake Crouch and was that impressed I immediately bought Desert Places & Locked Doors from the Andrew Z. Thomas series.
Desert Places was his debut novel written some eight years before Pines and brings us into the world of a successful psychological thriller writer who suddenly has the tension and horror of what he writes about bought very much to reality.
Andrew Thomas has all the trappings of a success, a lakeside property, no shortage of money, friends and a relatively stress free life. This all changes on receiving a letter that very much turns his world upside down, the letter tells of a body buried on his property, the body is covered in his blood and has been murdered by a knife now missing from his kitchen. If he seeks help the killer will let the police know exactly where the body and more are hidden and he will be incarcerated for life. Instructions are left and Andrew must follow them to the letter to remain in the game.
The killer attempts to make a sincere connection with Andrew and teach him about himself, what he is truly capable of and a tense exploration of the psychology of a serial killer is the result.
The reason and culprit behind the story are interesting, although the getting there lacks true nerve shredding tension and there is a distinct lack of back story until near the end of the book. It is supposedly a story of survival in horrific circumstances at the hands of a killer without remorse and I thought the ending excellent but the lead up lacks something. There is however a great deal of potential and I will certainly read the second book in the series.
I recently read The Pines by Blake Crouch and was that impressed I immediately bought Desert Places & Locked Doors from the Andrew Z. Thomas series.
Desert Places was his debut novel written some eight years before Pines and brings us into the world of a successful psychological thriller writer who suddenly has the tension and horror of what he writes about bought very much to reality.
Andrew Thomas has all the trappings of a success, a lakeside property, no shortage of money, friends and a relatively stress free life. This all changes on receiving a letter that very much turns his world upside down, the letter tells of a body buried on his property, the body is covered in his blood and has been murdered by a knife now missing from his kitchen. If he seeks help the killer will let the police know exactly where the body and more are hidden and he will be incarcerated for life. Instructions are left and Andrew must follow them to the letter to remain in the game.
The killer attempts to make a sincere connection with Andrew and teach him about himself, what he is truly capable of and a tense exploration of the psychology of a serial killer is the result.
The reason and culprit behind the story are interesting, although the getting there lacks true nerve shredding tension and there is a distinct lack of back story until near the end of the book. It is supposedly a story of survival in horrific circumstances at the hands of a killer without remorse and I thought the ending excellent but the lead up lacks something. There is however a great deal of potential and I will certainly read the second book in the series.
February 29, 2016
Pretty crazy and violent tale about a novelist who receives a letter informing him that he has a body buried on his property, with his blood on it and his missing paring knife is the murder weapon.
Aaaaand we're off!
Blake Crouch can sure write a thriller. I was glued to the pages of his Pines series, and after that I was sure I'd read more of him and here I am at his first novel.
For a first novel this is impressive stuff. While most people probably wouldn't have bought into Andrew's way of doing things, it's great fun to just sit back (with fingers clenched) and watch things play out. The novel ended surprisingly for me because this happened at around 75% of my Kindle edition...the rest of the chapters were previews of his subsequent books.
Desert Places read like gangbusters for the most part. I did find at times that his descriptive was clunky and it slowed me down somewhat, but this may have just been me. Otherwise, for the final 25% or so I was burning through the pages. Just like I did with Pines.
Another score. Good enough to say I'll likely read the sequel, but not for a while. I'm too curious about Run and Abandon, and of course his latest, Dark Matter, which people are calling his best work.
In a reading slump? Give Crouch a shot.
Aaaaand we're off!
Blake Crouch can sure write a thriller. I was glued to the pages of his Pines series, and after that I was sure I'd read more of him and here I am at his first novel.
For a first novel this is impressive stuff. While most people probably wouldn't have bought into Andrew's way of doing things, it's great fun to just sit back (with fingers clenched) and watch things play out. The novel ended surprisingly for me because this happened at around 75% of my Kindle edition...the rest of the chapters were previews of his subsequent books.
Desert Places read like gangbusters for the most part. I did find at times that his descriptive was clunky and it slowed me down somewhat, but this may have just been me. Otherwise, for the final 25% or so I was burning through the pages. Just like I did with Pines.
Another score. Good enough to say I'll likely read the sequel, but not for a while. I'm too curious about Run and Abandon, and of course his latest, Dark Matter, which people are calling his best work.
In a reading slump? Give Crouch a shot.
April 9, 2017
**Warning** Spoiler Alert - Read at your own risk!
Andrew has some serious skeletons in his family closet. Well, at least one. His twin brother Orson vanished years ago. Now, he’s back. He has been a busy boy since his disappearance and wants to get reacquainted with his brother. Evidently, calling and grabbing a bite of lunch was too easy. Unless, of course, it was going to be liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti. Ahhhh, the joys of family. They were so close when they were kids. Like peas and carrots, peanut butter and chocolate, cigarette burns on clam hammers.
Blake Crouch knows how to write thrillers. It is impossible to deny his skills. It feels to me like he writes with the big screen in mind though. Not small time productions, but big ass summer blockbustery type movies. Doesn’t really matter, I guess, because I already mentioned that dude can write. Desert Places is no exception and this one is a non-stop thrill ride of violence and suspense. There are some classic characters here and I am looking forward to more from this series. 3.5 Stars.
Andrew has some serious skeletons in his family closet. Well, at least one. His twin brother Orson vanished years ago. Now, he’s back. He has been a busy boy since his disappearance and wants to get reacquainted with his brother. Evidently, calling and grabbing a bite of lunch was too easy. Unless, of course, it was going to be liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti. Ahhhh, the joys of family. They were so close when they were kids. Like peas and carrots, peanut butter and chocolate, cigarette burns on clam hammers.
Blake Crouch knows how to write thrillers. It is impossible to deny his skills. It feels to me like he writes with the big screen in mind though. Not small time productions, but big ass summer blockbustery type movies. Doesn’t really matter, I guess, because I already mentioned that dude can write. Desert Places is no exception and this one is a non-stop thrill ride of violence and suspense. There are some classic characters here and I am looking forward to more from this series. 3.5 Stars.
July 24, 2021
One of Crouch's earlier works, it's a thriller vs. the sci-fi he is so well known for but man he sure can write thriller too! Who knew??
The premise of this story is so freaking interesting, creative, and extremely thought provoking. I found myself staring off in to space quite a bit, trying to picture myself in Andy's shoes.
The one thing I do wish was that we got a little more back story into Andy's childhood. This was a really quick read, unecessarily.
There really isn't much else I can say without giving things away so I'll just leave you with this... go read it, you won't be disappointed.
The premise of this story is so freaking interesting, creative, and extremely thought provoking. I found myself staring off in to space quite a bit, trying to picture myself in Andy's shoes.
The one thing I do wish was that we got a little more back story into Andy's childhood. This was a really quick read, unecessarily.
There really isn't much else I can say without giving things away so I'll just leave you with this... go read it, you won't be disappointed.
September 23, 2019
Andrew Thomas, a successful author, receives a note that there is a body on his property with his blood on it. I was waiting for the creepy puppet from the Saw movies to come out and say, "Live or die."
I love Crouch's writing but this one stretched a little far. Andy seemed to play along too much and feed into cliche horror movie scenarios. The book was fast paced and pushed me through, which is why I promoted my review to 3 stars.
I love Crouch's writing but this one stretched a little far. Andy seemed to play along too much and feed into cliche horror movie scenarios. The book was fast paced and pushed me through, which is why I promoted my review to 3 stars.
March 13, 2023
Always fun and quite creepy at times, I burned through this bloody ditty with the quickness, unable to pull myself away. A great opening to this 3 part series centered on a couple of folks with major......issues. To say more would just ruin a few surprises.
Book 2, I must find you!!
3 1/2 Wacked Out Stars
Book 2, I must find you!!
3 1/2 Wacked Out Stars
May 3, 2022
This is one of those books I couldn't put down. At only 280 pages (compare that to a Stephen King book), it made for a fast read! Very suspenseful with moments of real terror... The story is about novelist Andrew Thomas, who one day gets a letter in his mailbox telling him that there is a body buried on his rural property. What's more, the body has his blood on it...and Thomas is told not to call the police. What would you do?
This I believe is the debut novel of Blake Crouch (published in 2004) and is the first of a trilogy. Crouch has gone on to write more suspense novels. I guess I'll be reading more of him! But let me recover from this one first.
This I believe is the debut novel of Blake Crouch (published in 2004) and is the first of a trilogy. Crouch has gone on to write more suspense novels. I guess I'll be reading more of him! But let me recover from this one first.
December 27, 2021
I love Crouch, but I just can't go above 3� on this one. You can definitely tell this is his first book, with his unpolished writing (which, thankfully, gets much better with his later work) and too far out there storyline. I can suspend disbelief for most things, but this was too much. Maybe being a twin myself, it just made it harder to believe. However, I'll give Crouch props with his relentless pacing and non-stop tension. It was top notch, as usual.
January 20, 2022
Loving this series so far. Scary. Kind of reminds me Dexter. Lovers of Dexter will like this. Another great Blake Crouch book.
March 2, 2023
I could have easily moved on to the second book without stopping. Unfortunately, for me, I must acquire it first 🤣
Great book! Fast paced.
Great book! Fast paced.
December 27, 2022
Okay, so, this would have been a four star thriller if it wasn’t for one scene. There were a few details and one scene that didn’t make any realistic sense, but overall I thought it was dark, twisted, but still entertaining to read in a macabre way.
But there’s a really weird SA scene about 2/3’s of the way in that just really took me out of it. It seemed like Crouch had written all this other disturbing stuff, and then was like, how about this? And just plopped it in. Overall I think it’s worth the read if you can handle some brutal imagery, but yeah idk, I just didn’t like how that scene was written/brought up.
But there’s a really weird SA scene about 2/3’s of the way in that just really took me out of it. It seemed like Crouch had written all this other disturbing stuff, and then was like, how about this? And just plopped it in. Overall I think it’s worth the read if you can handle some brutal imagery, but yeah idk, I just didn’t like how that scene was written/brought up.
December 28, 2017
Nothing so terrifying as stupidity. 1 Star
Crouch's first (and it reads like a first) novel is ostensibly a thriller/horror novel about an author (Andrew Thomas) who is kidnapped by a mysterious stranger and threatened with being framed for a grisly murder.
It's ostensibly a thriller only because while I definitely screamed at the book, it was only out of frustration at the inane plot. The book was basically written in reverse and the big "reveal" of the mysterious antagonist takes place within the first 50 pages. So whatever happens afterwards loses all tension and you're left with yelling at the characters to stop effing around and go to the police.
That's the worst part, NOBODY GOES TO THE POLICE. It's no spoiler to say that the mystery kidnapper is Andrew's long-lost twin brother Orson. Orson, whom we have NEVER MET and have NO IDEA he existed but for a single thruway line earlier, also happens to be a bat-shit crazy serial killer and wants to enlist his brother to help him.
But first he makes Andrew read a lot. Seriously. He makes him read a bunch of political theory books while he's chained up in his desert shed. Why? Who knows. That aspect never really comes back. Oh, and Andrew (the writer) continues to write while confined. Does that matter to the plot? No, but it's in there. So ok.
And despite being gory and awful and "making" Andrew do horrible things (some of which Andrew doesn't protest nearly enough to remain sympathetic), Andrew's character still falls back on saying "but he's still my brother" type lines.
Problem is, we know NOTHING about this brother character other than that he likes the choppy-choppy-murderporn. The only inklings that the two brothers have any sort of shared history comes up within the 50 pages.
Eventually Andrew "escapes" (is released?) and again....DOES NOT GO TO THE POLICE. Despite there being ample evidence that would directly point to his brother as the culprit, Andrew doesn't go to the police because....he writes crime thrillers and "knows the system." Mind you, the book opens with Andrew receiving a LETTER from Orson saying that he was going to frame him for murder. Pretty sure the police might pay attention to that. So no police. Got it.
I say this was a book written in reverse because it had elements of a decent narrative. You could have had a Stephen King-esque coming of age between two brothers marred by tragedy/trauma intercut with mounting tension of the writer unraveling that someone was out to get him such that by the time you learn it's the brother, you have (a) some familiarity with the character and (b) maybe some sympathy for Andrew's predicament and (c) a sense of closure when the story resolves itself.
Instead Crouch goes immediately to murder-porn and Andrew (our HERO) is literally FILLETING a human body by page 100. No thanks.
Crouch's first (and it reads like a first) novel is ostensibly a thriller/horror novel about an author (Andrew Thomas) who is kidnapped by a mysterious stranger and threatened with being framed for a grisly murder.
It's ostensibly a thriller only because while I definitely screamed at the book, it was only out of frustration at the inane plot. The book was basically written in reverse and the big "reveal" of the mysterious antagonist takes place within the first 50 pages. So whatever happens afterwards loses all tension and you're left with yelling at the characters to stop effing around and go to the police.
That's the worst part, NOBODY GOES TO THE POLICE. It's no spoiler to say that the mystery kidnapper is Andrew's long-lost twin brother Orson. Orson, whom we have NEVER MET and have NO IDEA he existed but for a single thruway line earlier, also happens to be a bat-shit crazy serial killer and wants to enlist his brother to help him.
But first he makes Andrew read a lot. Seriously. He makes him read a bunch of political theory books while he's chained up in his desert shed. Why? Who knows. That aspect never really comes back. Oh, and Andrew (the writer) continues to write while confined. Does that matter to the plot? No, but it's in there. So ok.
And despite being gory and awful and "making" Andrew do horrible things (some of which Andrew doesn't protest nearly enough to remain sympathetic), Andrew's character still falls back on saying "but he's still my brother" type lines.
Problem is, we know NOTHING about this brother character other than that he likes the choppy-choppy-murderporn. The only inklings that the two brothers have any sort of shared history comes up within the 50 pages.
Eventually Andrew "escapes" (is released?) and again....DOES NOT GO TO THE POLICE. Despite there being ample evidence that would directly point to his brother as the culprit, Andrew doesn't go to the police because....he writes crime thrillers and "knows the system." Mind you, the book opens with Andrew receiving a LETTER from Orson saying that he was going to frame him for murder. Pretty sure the police might pay attention to that. So no police. Got it.
I say this was a book written in reverse because it had elements of a decent narrative. You could have had a Stephen King-esque coming of age between two brothers marred by tragedy/trauma intercut with mounting tension of the writer unraveling that someone was out to get him such that by the time you learn it's the brother, you have (a) some familiarity with the character and (b) maybe some sympathy for Andrew's predicament and (c) a sense of closure when the story resolves itself.
Instead Crouch goes immediately to murder-porn and Andrew (our HERO) is literally FILLETING a human body by page 100. No thanks.
Shelved as 'put-aside-for-now'
August 19, 2016I'm stopping right here (page 113) because this story just got REALLY sick and I need to be able to sleep at night. The only thing that would prompt me to continue reading any more of this is the fact that Blake Crouch is such an excellent writer, and I got drawn in in spite of myself. Darn it, I want to know what happens to Andrew in the end. I may have to break my cardinal rule and peek at the last page.
Maybe someday... but not today.
Maybe someday... but not today.
July 13, 2013
Andrew is in for one hell of a ride. He just opened a letter that told him there is a murder victim buried in his yard and if he doesn't do as instructed he will be framed for the murder.
What this bestselling author at first believes to be a prank becomes the beginning of a nightmare he cannot escape.
The book is almost nonstop suspense and terror. I white-knuckled my way through it in a couple of sittings, jaw dropped most of the way through. A few people told me it was slow in the middle, but I've certainly trudged through much more boring passages. For me it never relented.
Blake Crouch never ceases to amaze me. When I open one of his books, it's like I just rolled up my sleeve and got an injection of adrenaline. This is the fourth of his books I have read and my respect for his style and talent continue to grow. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel to this. Highly recommended to thriller and horror fans.
What this bestselling author at first believes to be a prank becomes the beginning of a nightmare he cannot escape.
The book is almost nonstop suspense and terror. I white-knuckled my way through it in a couple of sittings, jaw dropped most of the way through. A few people told me it was slow in the middle, but I've certainly trudged through much more boring passages. For me it never relented.
Blake Crouch never ceases to amaze me. When I open one of his books, it's like I just rolled up my sleeve and got an injection of adrenaline. This is the fourth of his books I have read and my respect for his style and talent continue to grow. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel to this. Highly recommended to thriller and horror fans.
May 30, 2011
Desert Places was my first Blake Crouch read and it was enough to make me want to track down and read everything else by him. I am always overjoyed to discover a new horror/thriller writer that actually has writing skills. This book was full of interests that most horror fans seem to have. One of these is how would you react if someone sent you a note saying that there is a dead body buried on your property and they can make one phone call to the police to put you away for a very long time if you don’t do exactly what they say? Our protagonist has to make some very tough choices and do some very horrible things in this book. It reminded me just a little of Gonzalez’s Survivor because of this. For me, Desert Places made a wonderful first impression. Not a five-star read but close. Four and a half stars if ŷ allowed it.
July 21, 2021
I’m gonna keep this really short. Blake Crouch, I much prefer your sci-fi thrillers than this serial killer thriller that borderlines the splatterpunk genre.
June 23, 2014
What can I say, this book will entice and grab you by the collar or whatever, it's fast and delightful and sick and furious, by 59% I seriously thought I was going to have a heart attack from this story, I was actually shivering like a drunk snow man when I walked into my kitchen and told my boyfriend what I was reading this afternoon.. this was probably my 5th Crouch book and I am in love.. he took my eye balls and rubbed them viciously though many, many words that formed some intense ideas, I'm crazy fanatically addicted and not because I loved the Pines series from him so far ( eagerly awaiting Pines #3 in July) this guy will out-do grand master Stephen King by the time he grows a long beard of time.
Crouch is a master. Period. I've read a few books from Crouch, from his brother, and his equally impressive side kick, J A Konrath, and I enjoyed their collaborative effort of Serial Uncut which I read last year, it has about twenty of their best, most twisted serial killers in it, few of them were in this book as well, Orson and Luther, and I have to say that this guy gets it even at the young age, he has the gift for the written word twisted around a story that will kick you in the spine.. You can read that book without reading Desert Places but once you get hooked you will probably seek out the rest in order to get all of it. That's what I'm buzzing through now with pure delight.
Cold shivers, sweat, adrenaline, Desert Places is not a joke..that one part in the house with Andrew creeping around had me at the end of my wits and I rarely lose it over a book, I had to close it and step away but still inside I was dying for the story.. I felt it, it's rare that a book will make me sick and scared since I have read horror for the past eighteen years ever since I was fifteen or so, and this still takes the cake... but don't get me wrong, this has substance, charm not just gore, you will care about the characters even the so called bad ones, it's a delicious gray area similar to that of the Game of Thrones story lines, you will feel ill to the pit of your stomach with pity even for monsters then be smacked back with a few typed words, it's intense. Addictive. I wont even talk about the plot, but it involves Andrew Z. Thomas who writes fictional crime books and someone who knows him well and who will turn his world upside down and inside out and then back through a mental and physical meat grinder, into the open flame and then back in the freezer. I cant even explain this book, it simply has to be read, and not plunging into the rest series takes some serious Orson style restraint on my part, minus cutting people's insides out, that is.
- Kasia S.
Crouch is a master. Period. I've read a few books from Crouch, from his brother, and his equally impressive side kick, J A Konrath, and I enjoyed their collaborative effort of Serial Uncut which I read last year, it has about twenty of their best, most twisted serial killers in it, few of them were in this book as well, Orson and Luther, and I have to say that this guy gets it even at the young age, he has the gift for the written word twisted around a story that will kick you in the spine.. You can read that book without reading Desert Places but once you get hooked you will probably seek out the rest in order to get all of it. That's what I'm buzzing through now with pure delight.
Cold shivers, sweat, adrenaline, Desert Places is not a joke..that one part in the house with Andrew creeping around had me at the end of my wits and I rarely lose it over a book, I had to close it and step away but still inside I was dying for the story.. I felt it, it's rare that a book will make me sick and scared since I have read horror for the past eighteen years ever since I was fifteen or so, and this still takes the cake... but don't get me wrong, this has substance, charm not just gore, you will care about the characters even the so called bad ones, it's a delicious gray area similar to that of the Game of Thrones story lines, you will feel ill to the pit of your stomach with pity even for monsters then be smacked back with a few typed words, it's intense. Addictive. I wont even talk about the plot, but it involves Andrew Z. Thomas who writes fictional crime books and someone who knows him well and who will turn his world upside down and inside out and then back through a mental and physical meat grinder, into the open flame and then back in the freezer. I cant even explain this book, it simply has to be read, and not plunging into the rest series takes some serious Orson style restraint on my part, minus cutting people's insides out, that is.
- Kasia S.
August 8, 2015
I read this one as an ebook.. which I hate reading! I use the app on my iPad.. and it has a terrible glare during the day.. and at night I find it too bright.. even with the screen brightness turned down!
I want to start out by giving Blake Crouch praise for another amazing book!
He is extremely talented! He writes with such clarity that I can vividly picture the scene I am reading.. sometimes it's a little stomach turning !! This books takes you on a wild ride! It's about an author named Andrew Thomas.. and his psychotic twin brother Orson. From page one you are on the edge of your seat.. and it doesn't stop the entire book! even as I write this review I am still reeling from
the book! This book is very dark.. not for the easily queazy! There were some parts where I felt so sick to my stomach I had to take a break.. and this is my favourite genre! so I read a lot of books similar to this.. so it says a lot when I felt sick a few times! lol
There are flashbacks to when the twins were younger.. and why Orson is the way he is...
there were some good flashback memories and others that were very traumatizing!
I wish more of Blake's books were in bookstores ! that way I could buy them! I would enjoy them much more with a physical
book in my hand!
I am really looking forward to
book 2 and 3!
this is one of the best books I have ever read! I felt emotionally invested in this story.. the writing is so picturesque it's almost poetic! He writes beautifully and flawlessly!
I want to start out by giving Blake Crouch praise for another amazing book!
He is extremely talented! He writes with such clarity that I can vividly picture the scene I am reading.. sometimes it's a little stomach turning !! This books takes you on a wild ride! It's about an author named Andrew Thomas.. and his psychotic twin brother Orson. From page one you are on the edge of your seat.. and it doesn't stop the entire book! even as I write this review I am still reeling from
the book! This book is very dark.. not for the easily queazy! There were some parts where I felt so sick to my stomach I had to take a break.. and this is my favourite genre! so I read a lot of books similar to this.. so it says a lot when I felt sick a few times! lol
There are flashbacks to when the twins were younger.. and why Orson is the way he is...
there were some good flashback memories and others that were very traumatizing!
I wish more of Blake's books were in bookstores ! that way I could buy them! I would enjoy them much more with a physical
book in my hand!
I am really looking forward to
book 2 and 3!
this is one of the best books I have ever read! I felt emotionally invested in this story.. the writing is so picturesque it's almost poetic! He writes beautifully and flawlessly!
November 4, 2017
LOL Blake Crouch seems to have a particular writing style that he excels at. If you can suspend disbelief for a while his books are insanely entertaining. I'm not sure if he was an only child or took some mad drugs or what but his imagination is really out there. This book was no exception.
Author Andy Thomas has his life turned upside down by a strange demand from an unknown person. He is to travel to Denver without telling anyone or he will be framed for murder. There are bodies buried in his property and 'proof' implicating him in their murders. So off he goes only to be drugged and whisked away to a very isolated spot only to learn that all this has been engineered by his brother, Orson. His insane, psychopathic brother who disappeared from the family many years ago. Orson wants to open Andy's eyes to his true nature but Andy wants none of it.
As these two dance around each other there are moments that are are almost comedic, even as Orson is brutally killing strangers. As the far reaching consequences of the whole shebang sink in and Andy tries to extricate himself, he comes to realize that nothing will ever be the same again for him. And that, folks, is the subject of the sequel. Why only three stars? I'm unsure. I was entertained by the story but it's almost as if it's too out there and therefore, a bit like the Marvel heroes franchise - heaps of fun but of course it could never happen. I'll see what the sequel brings though.
Author Andy Thomas has his life turned upside down by a strange demand from an unknown person. He is to travel to Denver without telling anyone or he will be framed for murder. There are bodies buried in his property and 'proof' implicating him in their murders. So off he goes only to be drugged and whisked away to a very isolated spot only to learn that all this has been engineered by his brother, Orson. His insane, psychopathic brother who disappeared from the family many years ago. Orson wants to open Andy's eyes to his true nature but Andy wants none of it.
As these two dance around each other there are moments that are are almost comedic, even as Orson is brutally killing strangers. As the far reaching consequences of the whole shebang sink in and Andy tries to extricate himself, he comes to realize that nothing will ever be the same again for him. And that, folks, is the subject of the sequel. Why only three stars? I'm unsure. I was entertained by the story but it's almost as if it's too out there and therefore, a bit like the Marvel heroes franchise - heaps of fun but of course it could never happen. I'll see what the sequel brings though.
August 24, 2007
(A) DESERT PLACES / (B) LOCKED DOORS (Suspense-Cont) � NR/DNF
Crouch, Blake � 1st and 2nd in series
St. Martin's Press, 2004/2005 - Hardcover
(A) Thriller writer Andrew Thomas is set up as a serial killer and has no way of proving he is not. (B) It appears on of the bad guys from book (A) is still alive and again out to terrorize Andrew.
*** I group these together as I accidentally started book (B) first, couldn't get into it and thought it might be better if I read book (A) first. I was wrong. These are books that a light in character development, but very heavy on gore and violence. I should like to author to have taken the "less is more" approach; his suspense is effective, but for me, the overt violence and gore made it impossible for me to stay with. True horror lovers will probably enjoy these but they just weren’t for me.
Crouch, Blake � 1st and 2nd in series
St. Martin's Press, 2004/2005 - Hardcover
(A) Thriller writer Andrew Thomas is set up as a serial killer and has no way of proving he is not. (B) It appears on of the bad guys from book (A) is still alive and again out to terrorize Andrew.
*** I group these together as I accidentally started book (B) first, couldn't get into it and thought it might be better if I read book (A) first. I was wrong. These are books that a light in character development, but very heavy on gore and violence. I should like to author to have taken the "less is more" approach; his suspense is effective, but for me, the overt violence and gore made it impossible for me to stay with. True horror lovers will probably enjoy these but they just weren’t for me.
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