I got this book via Zooba.

I was very impressed with this debut novel by Joe Hill, Stephen King's son, one of the best horror novels I've read in a while! In this book we follow Judas Coyne, his two dogs, Angus and Bon, and his goth girlfriend Marybeth, as they try to escape from the ghost that is after them, the ghost that Judas purchased online. This book is filled with disturbing images, which I'm sure will stay with me for a very long time. I highly recommend this book and I eagerly await more from this author in the future. I don't suggest reading this book at night... if you have a dog, make sure to keep him nearby for your own protection!

From the Publisher
Sooner or later, the dead catch up . . .

Judas Coyne was a collector. The bizarre, the uncanny, the grotesque. A cookbook for cannibals. A used hangman’s noose. A snuff film. Many of these objects were gifts from the black-clad fans who 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 bandmates 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 stepdaddy. 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.

If ever there was a case of caveat emptor, this is it . . .

About the Author
The author of the acclaimed story collection 20th Century Ghosts, Joe Hill is a recipient of the Ray Bradbury Fellowship and the A. E. Coppard Long Fiction Prize. His stories have appeared in numerous small publications and anthologies. He lives in New England.

Participants: Shipping order is subject to change
perryfran of Massachusetts
wss4 of Florida
msjoanna of New York
cheesygiraffe of Alabama
missprisy of Massachusetts
butlin of New Hampshire
Donduckandy of Pennsylvania
dg7500 of Pennsylvania
jaylou of Missouri no response

RAY COMPLETE

Jare's 2007 Horror Read & Release Challenge
September: Ghosts/demons/spirits

I couldn't bear to release this book into the wild with it on so many wish lists, so this book is on its way to perryfran to kick off the ray I have started.

I hope you all enjoy the book!

Received in today's mail. I will get to it soon - I have been wanting to read this one! Thanks Bibliocrates for including me in this bookray.

I could definitely feel Stephen King's presence while reading this super horror novel written by his son, Joe Hill. It reminded me a lot of some of King's better early novels like Christine, The Shining, Cujo, and 'Salem's Lot. When I first heard of this book, I wanted to read it and based on the hype was hoping for a great horror story. I wasn't disappointed! At first I thought "how is the story going to keep interesting once the ghost arrives via the on-line auction?" But the story kept my interest and rates high on the creepy scale.

Thanks Bibliocrates for including me in this bookray. I have wss4's address and will get this in the mail tomorrow.

RELEASE NOTES:

In the mail tomorrow to wss4 in Branford, FL. Enjoy!

USPS DC# 0306 2400 0000 7461 7426

Book arrived today. I am looking forward to reading it. Thanks for sharing.

What a fantastic ghost story. It has been a while since I have read a really good ghost story and this one was just what I needed.

Jude is a fading rock star who has not lead a very decent life. Marybeth is his most recent young bed warmer. As horrible as Jude appears to be, I really grew to like him and found myself rooting for him and Marybeth from the beginning. The beginning being when Jude buys a ghost off an Internet auction site. Having spent his life with a healthy interest in the occult and supernatural he does not hesitate to buy the ghost, but when the heart-shaped box with the old suit that the ghost is supposed to be attached to arrives, it brings with it what will ultimately be the ride of Jude's life.

With plenty of twist and turns this book is a non-stop action ride. I picked it up and could not put in down. Finished it in 24 hours, which is saying a lot! Well worth a read and you can see where Joe Hill gets his writing influence from his dad. Looking forward to more by this author.

~~~

Will be sending this on to msjoanna as soon as I get her mailing address.

Thanks for sharing such a wonderful read!!

RELEASE NOTES:

Sending to msjoanna who is next in the ring. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Thanks for sharing Biblio!!

ETA-- The DC# is 420100119102805213907425965606

This looks really interesting. I'll be starting it really soon -- probably I'll save it for the weekend so that I can read it quickly if it really grips me.

I enjoyed this book more than I expected to, but find it surprising that the book made the New York Times best books list. I admit that I was interested in the book in part because Joe Hill is Stephen King's son and it seemed likely that growing up with King might give Hill a leg up on horror stories. Fair warning: I've only read a couple King books and don't read much from the horror/ghost story/thriller genre. Thus, I'm not actually much of an expert on whether this book is better or worse than others.

That said, the book has surprisingly well-drawn and complicated characters. I would have been interested in reading about Jude even if he hadn't been haunted by a ghost. The fantastical plot stayed close enough to reality that I found it interesting and even scary rather than distracting and silly. I'm glad that I picked this book up as it's good to sometimes read something outside my usual choices. Thanks for sharing.

I'll be sending this along to cheesygiraffe early next week. (mailed 2/7/08)

Yay! I can't wait to read this. :)

Excellent read. I also could see Stephen King's influence in his son's writing. I like the Rock'n'Roll aspect of this novel and it wasn't set in Maine. Phew. It was scary at times but once Jude knew what to do I wasn't scared anymore.

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to missprisy

This arrived today. I have a few others I need to read prior to this one.

Release #5 for Guinaveve 2008 Keep Them Moving Challenge

I'm going to brave the post office today and get this book out to butlin. Thank you for sharing Bibliocrates!

Received safe and sound. Can't wait to read this one. I love a good horror story. Have to admit I picked this one because of the King connection.

Just about finished with this and have requested the next address to foward along. Glad to have had a chance to read this since Stephen (we're not really on a first name basis)is his father. This was a great ghost story that kept me reading. I also liked the rock and roll aspect but wished it was based in Maine. I really enjoy reading about ghosts so close to home! Thanks Bibliocrates

Book arrived here in Hazleton, Pa. 6/30/08. Will start to read in a few days. Finishing a book first.

Really creepy, scary tale. Jude really has a job trying to outsmart the ghost on his tail. But he figures some ways to do it. Has to really work hard at it, too. Enjoyed reading this book. Sending out to dg7500.

RELEASE NOTES:

Going to Manhiem, Pa.

Arrived safely. I'm currently reading another bookring, and we have company staying with us through the end of the weekend, so I don't anticipate starting this for about a week. I've heard good things about this book, and am looking forward to reading it ASAP. Thanks for including me, Bibliocrates!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this when I signed on (other than I knew many readers were raving about it), but I'm oh so glad I asked to be included in the bookray! This really was a great read, and there are shades of Stephen King's earlier works in Hill's debute novel. I'll definitely be looking to read more of his writing as it becomes available.

I've tried to reach jaylou on 3 seperate occasions now, but haven't heard back from them. Since it looks like I'm now last on the bookray list (and with Bibliocrates blessing), I've decided to keep this book moving by sending it out shortly in a RABCK package to someone who has it on their wishlist.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

A wish fulfilled. Enjoy!!

This was a RABCK from dg7500. :-) I can't wait to read it! And Bibliocrates, your postit was still inside the front cover. Gave me a good laugh...put it in the freezer! I never thought of that but that's a great idea!