Hexes

Rating:
Summary: Truly a two and half, not worth avoiding not worth buying
Review: The "research" on the occult issues in this book seemed more like regurgitated blurbs from encyclopedias than actual understanding of the ideas or historical figures involved. The characters were more stereotypes than rounded people, and the book dragged like a bum leg. There was nothing particularly shocking, intriguing, or thought provoking about this book. The part with the demons was really good, but it was over quickly, and it was back to the benign story that meandered forward to an even less exciting ending. This might be good for a young reader, but if you are looking for something well written and exciting, skip it. I couldn't even recommend this for a good weekend read. If you want a good horror book, try S. A. Swiniarski's "The Flesh, the Blood, and the Fire." Now, THAT is a good read!

Rating:
Summary: literate horror
Review: Not living in the US and having access to public libraries, I have been unfortunately unaware of Tom Piccirilli until I ordered Hexes on a whim. And was very pleasantly surprised. Immediately, his writing reminded me of Ramsey Campbell, and I turned to the back to see if the author was American or British. I associated the writing with Campbell for a very specific reason: in this book, the author does not assume that the reader is an idiot, he does not do all of the work for the reader, but lets the latter fill in the blank spaces for himself, spacing his story out in hints and suggestions. I do not find this book excessively horrific, nothing is spelled out in descriptive hyperbole,but I do find it extremely interesting and provocative, in the manner of Black Easter. I think Tom Piccirili is a very fine writer, a great and needed addition to the genre that has included such greats as Poe and MacHen and Lovecraft, and yet still has not gained the respect of the public at large. His characters are believable and well defined, his story is innovative and captivating, and his prose is very literate and well paced.And, gosh, there is actually a moral imperative. I have every intention of buying all of his books.

Rating:
Summary: A gripping occult thriller
Review: This book gave me the creeps for days after I finished reading it. The characters are full of life and sorrow, the storyline weaves and bops between the past and the present, pain and humor. The supernatural aspects of it give the book a completely chilling atmosphere.

Rating:
Summary: Occult horror floored to the max
Review: Hexes is a novel that draws you in through its many layersand different story threads. The haunted town is fully realized in both the past and the present, as we watch its disintegration by madness and supernatural forces. It also features one of the funkiest asylums of all time: Panecraft, a mental hospital where the docs are as sick as the patients!

Rating:
Summary: A one-night read!
Review: I finished this book in a single sitting. Even though the night was clear and hot, I could feel the stormy nights and overwhelming atmosphere that Piccirili created in this novel. The wind, the rain, the deep dark secrets of the past that kept everybody going back to the beach where horrors had unfolded in their childhoods...the author knew how to develop and execute (!) the story so that it completely wrapped me up in it. Demons from hell and those of the mind fill this book to bursting!

Rating:
Summary: Unique and atmospheric horror
Review: I suspect that some of those who've left comments prefer their horror to be of the slash-n-dice variety. HEXES is a wonderfully creepy, atmospheric novel that comes alive in subtle ways or sorrow and heartache. There's so much emotion packed in here that the characters roil in their pasts, hoping to make up for previous sins and crimes. The occult research only adds yet another layer of depth to the narrative, and on the overall creates a mood and milieu of horror and sadness unlike anything else out there. Excellent fiction if you like depth rather than decapitated heads.

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as I expected.
Review: After all the hype about how good this book is supposed to be I was very disappointed. I have to agree with a few other reviewers that also gave this low marks. The character development was non-existant, it failed to draw me in or make me care about what happened, and it's hard to figure out what is happening until the middle of the book. Does anyone out there really know people with names like "Jello Joe" and "Jelly Jane"? Give me a break! There were some scenes that I thought were well written, but overall not an enjoyable read. I forced myself through the first two-thirds, even though I wanted to quit after the first third, only because of the other reviews, but I couldn't take it any longer and gave up. On to something more worthwhile.

Rating:
Summary: Occult wonders await
Review: A funky mix of researched details concerning witchcraft and unstoppable mystery and dark fantasy. This book roars forward and there's just no holding it back. The suspense reaches an all-high pitch in a scene where there's a madcap party from hell. An amazing engrossing story!

Rating:
Summary: Enticing horror fiction at its best
Review: HEXES is the most engaging novel I've read in the past six months, on par with Doug Clegg's THE HALLOWEEN MAN (which is one of my favorites as well). THe characters come alive, the atomsphere wraps you in its endrils, and the narrative flow is action-packed and rapid-fire. THere's a depth here that few novels ever reach, and Piccirilli mines it to perfection.

Rating:
Summary: Highly original occult horror
Review: Clearly Tom Piccirilli has done his homework researching occult matters. I thought the depth to which he manages to write was highly gripping and realistic. Despite all the terrifying scenes here in HEXES, there's also a great deal of humor, which works as a perfect counterpoint. Kudos galore!