Book Review: "Open Evening;" Author: Lee Hall; Publisher: Satin Publishing; August, 2016

11/22/2021

“Cold darkness would follow, and it excited me a little, for reasons I still don’t know, maybe it was just the intrigue of what another season would bring or perhaps it was what actually lay in the darkness beyond."

These simple words popped up throughout the book, “Open Evening,” inciting a chilling sense of foreboding. This is an excellent, subconscious premonition of what is to come...we are being prepped. The seed is cast. Author, Lee Hall, spins a horrific tale in this first book within a series which instantly grips the reader in a roller-coaster ride of epic proportions. Mr. Hall neatly lays out the plot with a plethora of fleshed-out characters, high octane scenes that build tension and great detail that paints a moving picture within the reader’s mind.

Mr. Hall is endowed with his own, unique style of writing. He does a fantastic job of building tension that culminates in horrific descriptions and well thought out scenes which contribute to the ultimate goal of creating a sense of fear and urgency within the reader’s imagination. Take for instance this line:

“Taking one glance behind me as I ran, an image imprinted itself forever; that of a human entrails in a slaughter house. Blood red remains everywhere, parts of people nobody should ever see, the interior of pure hell.”

And that is exactly what I felt like reading this book…as if I was in a kind of hell that my mind never thought to imagine. The book reminded me of those teenage blockbuster horror flicks we watched repeatedly a few years back. It wasn’t just a book. It was a saga…a horrific saga that left my throat parched at the end of every major scene!

In summation, the author wrote a fast-paced, detailed story brimming with palpable tension and fear, delivered to the reader with seamless writing and a fierce intent to mystify and horrify.

A great first book! 5/5

I was not asked to write this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Special Notes

You can find out more about the author, Lee Hall, by visiting his website at: Lee's Hall of information – A blog and journey in publishing (leehallwriter.com)

I was not requested to do this review. I did it of my own volition, volunteering my views in an effort to bring the author and potential readers together. All opinions/views are my own.

This review is also posted on Goodreads: Open Evening by Lee Hall | Goodreads

If you read a book, please remember to leave a review on any site of your choosing. It acts as an incentive for other readers to purchase an author's book. Writers are super appreciative of this kind act.

Book Reviewed: "Open Evening;" Author: Lee Hall; Publisher: Satin Publishing; Kindle Edition (August, 2016)

Book Blog Copyright (C) 2021 Mary-Lisa Russo

Author

You have stumbled into the writing world of Mary-Lisa Russo, an avid storyteller observing the universe around her and her humble place amongst the stars. “Excerpts From The Wandering Mind” is Mary-Lisa’s first collection of poems and she is currently working on her next book to be released in 2022. She recently created an e-book, namely, "Voices From the Universe," for her subscribers which is available for download via BookFunnel. She is a university graduate having majored in English Literature and continues to nurture her ongoing writing education at a local college. She is a member of the Ontario Poetry Society and various writers’ groups.