Books

Book Description

Judas Coyne is a collector of the macabre: a cookbook for cannibals . . . a used hangman's noose . . . a snuff film. An aging death-metal rock god, his taste for the unnatural is as widely known to his legions of fans as the notorious excesses of his youth. But nothing he possesses is as unlikely or as dreadful as his latest discovery, an item for sale on the Internet, a thing so terribly strange, Jude can't help but reach for his wallet.

I will "sell" my stepfather's ghost to the highest bidder. . . .

For a thousand dollars, Jude will become the proud owner of a dead man's suit, said to be haunted by a restless spirit. He isn't afraid. He has spent a lifetime coping with ghosts—of an abusive father, of the lovers he callously abandoned, of the bandmates he betrayed. What's one more?

But what UPS delivers to his door in a black heart-shaped box is no imaginary or metaphorical ghost, no benign conversation piece. It's the real thing.

And suddenly the suit's previous owner is everywhere: behind the bedroom door . . . seated in Jude's restored vintage Mustang . . . standing outside his window . . . staring out from his widescreen TV. Waiting—with a gleaming razor blade on a chain dangling from one bony hand. . . .

A multiple-award winner for his short fiction, author Joe Hill immediately vaults into the top echelon of dark fantasists with a blood-chilling roller-coaster ride of a novel, a masterwork brimming with relentless thrills and acid terror.

Customer Reviews:

I am not going to make it.......2007-06-28

There is no way I am going to be able to finish this book. I am in about 100 pages and I am struggling; it's painfully dull and just plain "Who cares". The writing style is appalling, the characters are stereotyped and undeveloped, and the plot is formulaic. Scarier than the ghost in the book? All the five star reviews.

A New Master of Horror Fiction.......2007-06-28

I have hade this novel some a little while now, but never got a chance to finish reading it up until recently.

I'd like to think of myself as a somewhat pre-expert at Stephen King novels, seeing as I own...all of them (The same goes for Koontz and the other 600+ books I happen to own, and the 10 or so I just bought on Amazon.com).



I can tell you that there are distinctive writing patters that are hard to duplicate.



Joe Hill's novel was an amazing read; it was better than I thought it would be, to be honest. It had one of those slow starts and then all of a sudden and grabs you by the balls and flails you around a bit.



I was very impressed for his debut. I honestly am anticipating his next novel, which I'm hoping will be coming up shortly.



This novel is a bestseller, and for those of you who do not own it yet, I highly recommend going to get yourself a copy of it... Now! What the hell are you waiting for? Go order it!



It's just that good.



--Joseph McGee, author of In the Wake of the Night, Phil's Place and Darkness Won't Rest: Phils Place II

Don't Read It in the Dar,.......2007-06-27

Wow. Joe Hill, makes the ghost of Craddock James McDermontt come to life and follow you down the same winding, creepy road. You won't want to put it down, and some of the images will linger long after the book is done.

It's a great first novel and I can't wait to see what else Mr. Hill has up his sleeve! He's without a doubt his Father's son!

Objective opinion.......2007-06-27

I wonder if Joe will ever wonder if he should have waited to reveal he was the son of a famous author? So many reviews on here mention Stephen King but as an objective opinion I can tell you Joe Hill shines on his own. His writing is very good even if the story wasn't the greatest in my opinion. Not his fault I just think it's tough to write a ghost story that can span over 300 pages. I think they make better short stories but that being said I'm glad I read the book. It had its moments that creeped me out and the characters were interesting and they are what drove the story. I'm impressed with Joe Hill to create a scum bag of a main character that you can't help but like even a little bit. I would recommend book and I look forward to seeing where Joe Hill will take me in his future works.

A Louisiana Gothic Love Story.......2007-06-27

As many other reviewers have stated, I couldn't put it down. It sucks you in from the first paragraph and mesmerizes the reader to the end. Hill's description of dark, overgrown Louisiana 2 lane blacktops that reek of the swamp rising up to meet them was dead on. I could hear the bullfrogs as I read. I did try to visualize Jude's character and came up with James Hetfield on his angriest day. A movie version with Hill penning the screenplay would be a treat.

Average customer rating: Henry delivers a good read for mystery fans School Reunion Gone Wrong Just Like Nancy Drew Clever addition to the Claire Montrose series

Heart-Shaped Box (Claire Montrose Mysteries (Paperback)) April Henry Manufacturer: Avon ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books Series | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books Henry, April | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Similar Items: Square in the Face: A Claire Montrose Mystery Circles of Confusion: A Claire Montrose Mystery (Claire Montrose Mysteries (Paperback)) Buried Diamonds : A Claire Montrose Mystery (Claire Montrose, 4) Buried Diamonds Learning to Fly: A Thriller ASIN: 0061030813 Release Date: 2002-02-05

Amazon.com

"YOU ARE INVITED TO THE MINOR HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1979 REUNION... BE THERE OR BE SQUARE." When Claire Montrose first reads the invitation, she reacts with a grimace (who wouldn't?). But while some things have changed since 1979, Claire, the curious, self-conscious heroine of April Henry's previous Circles of Confusion and Square in the Face, is still tall, thin, smart, and young-looking for her years. Deciding to flaunt the traits that kept her low on the high school social pecking order 20 years ago--and also show off her gorgeous Manhattan art curator boyfriend, Dante--Claire sends in her acceptance.

But the reunion weekend's first mystery crops up when Claire and Dante check in at Ye Olde Pioneer Village. Someone has left Claire a little heart-shaped box with a picture of her teenage self inside. And the first few drinks of the reunion icebreaker party have barely been downed when Cindy Sanchez, former head cheerleader and Minor High good-time girl, is found strangled in the parking lot, with another heart-shaped box in her hand.

As usual when she's faced with a puzzle, Claire's brain goes into overdrive. The chief of police (another old classmate) arrests a hotel employee who's found with Cindy's ATM card. Suspicion also falls on Claire's old friend Logan West, who's spent most of the intervening years in a mental hospital. But Claire doesn't think either man is guilty. Plenty of men might have found an excuse to slip out for a few minutes of auld lang syne with Cindy: Wade, her ex-boyfriend from senior year; Jim, Claire's own high-school flame; Richard, the class geek, now a high-tech millionaire; even Cindy's jealous, possibly estranged husband, Kevin. But none of them will admit to it. As the now-subdued weekend continues, Claire tries to narrow down her short list of could-have-done-its, knowing that she and the five other remaining women who received boxes may be in the killer's sights.

Though the clues--both real and false--are numerous and contradictory enough to seem a bit confusing, the murderer may not come as a big surprise to anyone who's read a few mysteries. Yet Heart-Shaped Box goes down as smoothly as chocolate. Just as Claire, with her kind heart, her little insecurities, and her one-glance perceptiveness and humor, appears to be gaining confidence and relaxing into her tentative relationship with Dante, so April Henry is relaxing into this ever-more-appealing series. --Barrie Trinkle

Book Description

Claire Montrose wasn't part of her high school's in-crowd. Too smart, too tall, too skinny, and too young-looking, she didn't have a lot of fun back then. But that won't stop Claire from attending her twentieth class reunion. After all, those former disadvantages now work very well for her, plus she's got a hip boyfriend named Dante.

But someone else can't let bygones be bygones. Checking into her hotel, Claire receives a mysterious heart-shaped box with her yearbook picture inside. Then another heart-shaped box is found -- in the limp hand of former head cheerleader Cindy Sanchez, strangled in the parking lot. Claire's got to put all her smarts to the test and find a calculating killer before she, too, becomes a memory.

Customer Reviews:

Henry delivers.......2005-03-31

As someone who dreads reunions of any sort, I must say I was totally engaged in this one. First, I love a good, fast-paced mystery. Second, heaps of background details on all the grads
made the story for me. And third, I'd rather read about a school reunion than go to my own (ack, coming up). Heart-Shaped Box is an excellent excuse to skip your own much-dreaded event. April Henry delivers another satisfying read.

a good read for mystery fans.......2003-10-07

This is a classic good novel for mystery novels, a good "whodunnit" type of book. You are kept hanging until the very end as to who is murdering the girls (women now) at a high school reunion who are found with a heart-shaped box. Typical good fashion in the Agatha Christie genre, where the murderer is found out at the end, and it is often not who you might suspect.
This was my first read of April's novels, and I decided I would give it a review.
Why four stars instead of five? Well, the license plates are fine, but I have read through the other books, and while certainly license plates or some other form of paraphernalia often tends to be a serial detective's shtick (such as Sherlock Holmes phrase to Dr. Watson, "It's all elementary, Doctor"), in this case, I believe the license plates are starting to grow old. The shtick isn't sticking for this particular character, and new growth is needed. Just my opinion, but there it is.
I would also warn those that are of a religious nature that the character Logan and his mother are caught in a time-warp, depicted as one-dimensional closed-minded fundamentalists that have a lack of intelligence (Logan is feeble-minded). Unfortunately, I rather expect this from April, but I need to inform those who would read this book. Perhaps an inclusion in her books as to an intelligent, articulate person of a religious persuasion could be adapted? I rather doubt that she will heed the advice, but read and judge for yourself.

Otherwise, it is a good read.

School Reunion Gone Wrong.......2001-11-16

The school reunion might have gone wrong for Claire, but it sure was a treat to this reader. The mystery was excellent. I loved the way she went back and forth with tidbits on each graduate. Its just the way we do with our annual and old pictures. It was so real with wondering if you are too fat-too thin--or too wrinkled to go to the 20th. Great book.

Just Like Nancy Drew.......2001-07-31

[...]Claire Montrose is just an average woman like you and me who happens to stumble upon a mystery and decides to investigate. She is not a cop, no police training, etc. This particular mystery takes place at her high school reunion, which was fun as well reading about seeing everyone again and how their personalities from high school now mesh with what they have become. I am having my 15 year reunion soon so this was particularly fun for me. I love that the book was so fast paced. Right from the beginning you enter the story without a lot of unnecessary reading. It engrossed me and kept me enthralled and there were some very funny parts as well. If she writes more books like this I will buy them and I am now looking for others as well. (But please, Ms. Henry, save the single parents!) Now if we can just get an adult version of the Nancy Drew books!

Clever addition to the Claire Montrose series.......2001-05-25

Class of '79. The cheerleader, the wannabe, the brainiac, the murderer. Murderer? In this third installment of April Henry's Claire Montrose series, Claire and her dashing boyfriend, Dante, embark on a weekend trip to Claire's 20 year high-school class reunion. Upon arriving, Claire is flattered to receive a handcrafted heart-shaped box lined with her old yearbook photo from an anonymous admirer--well, flattered until popular ex-cheerleader Cindy Sanchez is found lying dead in the parking lot with a similar heart-shaped box in her hand.

Ms. Henry expertly guides us through clever twists and turns as Claire's lingering adolescent insecurities give way to an emerging self-confidence and savvy which just may keep her alive.

Anyone who has ever pondered attending a school reunion will enjoy this classy mystery lightly seasoned with '70's nostalgia and Ms. Henry's trademark humor.

Average customer rating:

Heart-shaped Box Joe Hill Manufacturer: Books on Tape ProductGroup: Book Binding: Audio CD Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Mystery & Thrillers | Books on CD | Formats | Books ASIN: B000NROK1U

Product Description

Judas Coyne is a collector of the macabre. An aging death-metal rock god, his taste for the unusual is as well known to his fans as the excesses of his youth. For $1,000 he will buy on the Internet a dead man's suit that is believed to be haunted. UPS delivers in a heart-shaped box the real thing.

Average customer rating:

Heart-Shaped Box --- in RARE FIRST-STATE Dustwrapper! Joe (SIGNED with HAND-WRITTEN QUOTE) Hill Manufacturer: Gollancz ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: B000QRLLBE

Average customer rating:

El traje del muerto (Heart-Shaped Box) Joe Hill Manufacturer: Suma de letras ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback General | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books Look Inside Horror Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books General | Horror | Género Ficción | Literatura y ficción | Libros en español | Formats | Books General | Suspenso | Misterio | Libros en español | Formats | Books ASIN: 1598208853

Product Description

Aging, self-absorbed, death-metal rock star Judas Coyne was a collector. He collects the bizarre, the uncanny, and the grotesque. Many of these objects were gifts from the black-clad fans that made his metal band a legend and made him rich. But not all... When his personal assistant told him there was a ghost for sale on the Internet, Jude knew he had to have it for his private collection, didn t think twice. He should have. Jude has spent a lifetime evading ghosts of an abusive father, of the band mates he betrayed, of Anna, the suicidal girl he loved and abandoned. But this spirit is different. This one means to chase him to the edge of sanity. His new acquisition delivered to his doorstep in a black heart-shaped box is the restless soul of Anna s vengeful step daddy. Craddock McDermott swore he would settle with Jude for ruining his daughter s life. Soon, everywhere Jude turns, Craddock is there: behind the bedroom door; in Jude s restored vintage Mustang; outside his window; on his widescreen TV. Waiting with a gleaming razor blade on a chain dangling from one bony hand.

Description In Spanish: Jude Coyne es una estrella de rock, al estilo de Marilyn Manson, ya retirada. Vive en una apartada mansión, con la única compañía de su representante y una novia mucho más joven que él. Lo único que aún le divierte es coleccionar objetos relacionados con lo sobrenatural. Rizando el rizo, decide pujar por un fantasma que se subasta por Internet y, días después, recibe una extraña caja en forma de corazón que contiene el traje del muerto. Al poco tiempo, el espectro, Craddock, se le aparece, de forma muy sutil al principio y, enseguida, terriblemente amenazador. Cuando su asistente se suicida, Jude y su novia deciden abandonar la mansión y emprender una desesperada huida para salvar sus vidas... pero resulta muy difícil escapar de un fantasma, y mucho más si éste viene directamente del propio pasado. Joe Hill es el hijo de Stephen King. Aunque

Average customer rating:

The Dark Curse of Whispers Matthew Alan Pierce Manufacturer: PublishAmerica ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback General | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books Look Inside Horror Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books ASIN: 1424164214 Release Date: 2007-04-23

Book Description

A former angel, punished by God, chained in darkness, is rising from the dark depths below an old Victorian house. An ancient evil is whispering a dark curse into the shadows, bent on vengeance against God. The conversion of mankind into an army of shadow demons is the first step to its evil reckoning. It is now a commander of the whispering darkness. It is relentless. It is unstoppable. Patty Wilson turns the town eyesore into an orphanage, hoping to turn the house everyone thought haunted, into something good hearted and very positive. Nevertheless, evil is whispering amid the shadows, and it is growing stronger every moment. Turning humans into shadow demons to defy God is only the beginning to its evil plan. Now Patty, and an oddball group, just may be the only hope for stopping evil and saving the world from a shadowy Armageddon.

Average customer rating:

Heart-Shaped Box April Henry Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: B000OA5T2U

Average customer rating:

Heart-Shaped Box - SIGNED - in RARE FIRST-STATE Dustwrapper! Joe Hill Manufacturer: Gollancz ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: B000PKNVMO

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Baby Signet Ring with Engraved Cross in Center, 10 Kt Gold Heart Shaped: Pink Gift Box Manufacturer: Tru-Kay Jewelry ProductGroup: Book Binding: Unknown Binding ASIN: 5550029235

Average customer rating:

Baby Heart Shaped Earrings with Engraved Cross, 14kt Gold: Screwback Clutch, Gift Box Manufacturer: Tru-Kay Jewelry ProductGroup: Book Binding: Unknown Binding ASIN: 555002926X

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