Horror Aficionados discussion

Hey all! Terry and I will be doing a buddy read of Mystery Walk by Robert McCammon on October 1st.
All are welcome to join and please use spoilers when discussing the book.

I’ll be ready to walk the walk on this one! 👻

I’ve not really had a chance to get started on this yet. Hope to tomorrow.

Terry wrote: "I’ve not really had a chance to get started on this yet. Hope to tomorrow."

Just seeing this. No worries! We just got back from LBC late yesterday and I had to work today. Not a lot of time reading this at the moment. I’ll be getting into it more this weekend.

What I did read on the plane, I’m a fan so far. Interesting plot!

Hope the trip ended up going ok for you. Rotten week for me so I’ve not picked this up still. Will definitely start on it tomorrow though. Glad to hear you’re hooked already!

Terry wrote: "Hope the trip ended up going ok for you. Rotten week for me so I’ve not picked this up still. Will definitely start on it tomorrow though. Glad to hear you’re hooked already!"

It went okay, as well as it can go with that type of trip. Glad to be back though!

I started! Made up to the start of part 2. Very curious beginning. Not sure what’s happening yet.

Terry wrote: "I started! Made up to the start of part 2. Very curious beginning. Not sure what’s happening yet."

At the same point. It feels like the plot is just getting set up but I'm not sure where it's going. With the theme of intense religion in this one, my religious PTSD is getting triggered. Horror indeed....hahaha!

I do have to read an ARC right now and another book club book.
I'm not sure how fast I will get to read this. Hopefully I can get this ARC done this week.

How many pages are you trying to shoot for a day so I can try and keep on track?

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "I started! Made up to the start of part 2. Very curious beginning. Not sure what’s happening yet."

At the same point. It feels like the plot is just getting set up but I'm not sure w..."

Would 25 pgs work? The text is pretty dense in the copy I have so that is still a fair amount. Looks like it's about 4 chapters this time.

Terry wrote: "Would 25 pgs work? The text is pretty dense in the copy I have so that is still a fair amount. Looks like it's about 4 chapters this time...."

Perfect! That's a great range for this week. I can always bump it up next week once I get done with one of my other reads.

*squirrel!!* hahaha

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Would 25 pgs work? The text is pretty dense in the copy I have so that is still a fair amount. Looks like it's about 4 chapters this time...."

Perfect! That's a great range for this ..."

The squirrels are the best!

I got to the beginning of Part 4, Chapter 17.

I think I'm going to like this more now that (view spoiler)[Billy gets away from John. I have not been a fan of his dad since the beginning.
I thought he was such a coward f@!$ when he didn't help Mrs. Booker and the kids that day. He didn't tell anyone about it too and of course the whole KKK thing....LMAO!

I know it was somewhat normal back then to mind your own business and be a racist but my goodness, I hate this guy. (hide spoiler)]

Ginger wrote: "I got to the beginning of Part 4, Chapter 17.

I think I'm going to like this more now that ..."

I just got to that same spot this morning. I totally agree! (view spoiler)[ I don’t like John that much either. I feel sorry for him somewhat because he just can’t handle the reality of what’s going on, but he’s handling it about as bad as possible. He’s pretty weak so far, especially not supporting his wife and kid at all. (hide spoiler)]
I love the way RM books feel! There such a comfortableness to it, while at the same time always feeling a little epic. It’s a comforting feel so far.

Terry wrote: "I love the way RM books feel! There such a comfortableness to it, while at the same time always feeling a little epic. It’s a comforting feel so far..."

Yes! I love the way he writes too. I also love how great he is with characterization. I love and hate his characters so much. :D

I’ve only made it to the start of part 5. Curious to see where this goes for Billy.

Terry wrote: "I’ve only made it to the start of part 5. Curious to see where this goes for Billy."

I got to the start of Part Seven. I’m excited to see what happens next. This is getting really good!
The next two parts for you, 5 & 6 are going to go fast. It was hard for me to put this down and I got so bleeping mad at times!

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "I’ve only made it to the start of part 5. Curious to see where this goes for Billy."

I got to the start of Part Seven. I’m excited to see what happens next. This is getting really go..."

Excellent! I’ve been struggling to even fit in my 25 pages, haha. All of a sudden, have lots going on. I’ll get some reading in this weekend I hope.

Well, I made no progress 😂. We are doing a backyard project with a new screened porch and patio, and I spent the whole time working on that and watching football (Way to go Longhorns and Cats!). So, I'll work on catching up this week.

Terry wrote: "Well, I made no progress 😂. We are doing a backyard project with a new screened porch and patio, and I spent the whole time working on that and watching football (Way to go Longhorns and Cats!). So..."

I had one of those weekends too! Not a lot of reading, too many chores and watching too much football.

The Horns game was stressful since it was OU but this coming week will be more. Georgia! Ahhhhh
Loving football season though. Great job to your Cats!! Looks like they went up a spot. I was watching the game and hope your QB will be okay.

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "Well, I made no progress 😂. We are doing a backyard project with a new screened porch and patio, and I spent the whole time working on that and watching football (Way to go Longhorns ..."

I never thought there was a doubt with that OU game. Texas looked solid the whole way. You’re right, Georgia is going to be a challenge though!

So, I’m still a slacker 😂! I’m just at the start of part 6 still. The last few nights, my youngest son and I have been driving out away from the city to get to dark skies to see the comet. It has been a blast, but unfortunately no reading. I don’t want to hold you back if you want to keep going. I’ll catch up eventually as I’m really enjoying the story so far.

Terry wrote: "So, I’m still a slacker 😂! I’m just at the start of part 6 still. The last few nights, my youngest son and I have been driving out away from the city to get to dark skies to see the comet. It has been a blast, but unfortunately no reading. I don’t want to hold you back if you want to keep going. I’ll catch up eventually as I’m really enjoying the story so far...."

So cool!! I'm glad you are getting that time with your kid and trying to see the comet. Have you guys had any success?
No worries on catching up. I'm reading like 10 million books at the moment and have plenty of other reads to try and finish. :P hahaha
I'm up to Part 9 and looking forward to seeing how this one is going to end!

Ginger wrote: "Terry wrote: "So, I’m still a slacker 😂! I’m just at the start of part 6 still. The last few nights, my youngest son and I have been driving out away from the city to get to dark skies to see the c..."

Yes, success! We saw the comet, and it was a great time. We did the same back in 2020 when comet Neowise showed up and we found some dark skies to see it too. Road trip and late night under the stars is always a blast.
You are quite loaded with books, haha. I look forward to seeing where this one goes too.

Terry wrote: "Yes, success! We saw the comet, and it was a great time. We did the same back in 2020 when comet Neowise showed up and we found some dark skies to see it too. Road trip and late night under the stars is always a blast...."

Very cool!!

End of Part 9 - Revelations
(view spoiler)[Holy hell, I did not see Billy and Wayne being twins! Oh my. This completely changes everything in the book. o.O (hide spoiler)]

Finally made it into the middle of part 7. Wasn’t really expecting it to go the direction it has. I’m very curious where this goes now, especially with this (view spoiler)[ carnival guy. I think he knows more than he’s letting on with Billy. Like he wants something more that he’s just waiting to drop. (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Finally made it into the middle of part 7. Wasn’t really expecting it to go the direction it has...."

I wasn't expecting a (view spoiler)[carnival setting as well! I think you'll like where this plot goes with Dr. Mirakle & Billy. :D (hide spoiler)]

I’m slowly getting through, just having no time to read at all. I’m up to ch40, in part 8. I’m really liking this as a Halloween season read. The carnival, the characters, the story are all a good fit. Very much enjoying.

Terry wrote: "I’m slowly getting through, just having no time to read at all. I’m up to ch40, in part 8. I’m really liking this as a Halloween season read. The carnival, the characters, the story are all a good ..."

Glad you are enjoying it! I've got around 50 pages left so I'll be finishing soon. I'm excited and nervous to see how this ends.

I agree with you. Anything with the carnival along with ghosts is always a good Halloween read! :D

Just finished!! I’ll get back on here in the morning and shot you a spoiler tagged comment about the ending. I want to get off ALL electronics for the rest of the night. 🤷🏼‍♀️😂🤣

I ended up liking this one. It’s not one of my favorite McCammon books but it’s very good and original!
He’s one of the best! 🙌

Awesome Ginger! I have a little over 100pgs left so not terribly far behind. Hope to finish in a couple of days.

Finished (view spoiler)[ I like how this ended with Wayne ending up saving Billy in the end. Poor kid. If he had a different life and adoptive parents, he might have come out different.

I thought the shape shifter and mystery walk as a Choctaw was really interesting. I remember one of the Nora Kelley books have shape shifters in the plot and find this lore in Native Americans really fascinating!!

I think I would have rated this a bit higher if I'd got more information on Mr. Krepsin or felt anything besides thinking he was weird, gross and super odd. I didn't really find him that scary.

I did like how McCammon gave info finally on him when the fly was in the room and we got a look into his childhood and why he's a hypochondriac.
I did find his henchman Niles the more worrisome character. (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "Awesome Ginger! I have a little over 100pgs left so not terribly far behind. Hope to finish in a couple of days."

Awesome!! I think you'll end up speeding through it. It's very good at the end.

I finished last night. I quite enjoyed this one. Like you said, maybe not quite as good as some of his other books for me, but still very worth the read. (view spoiler)[ I also like the Native American shape shifter idea this went with. It is very fascinating.

I totally agree with you about Krepsin. He just kinda came out of nowhere with no background or fanfare. He also wasn’t that interesting for me, honestly. But, the story with Wayne and Billy was good anyway. I started thinking it was going to work out for both of them the way it was coming down to the end, but wouldn’t have been as good of an ending, I think. (hide spoiler)] I think I would like to see a sequel to this one to find out what the future would have been. Maybe someday there will be.

Terry wrote: "I finished last night. I quite enjoyed this one. Like you said, maybe not quite as good as some of his other books for me, but still very worth the read. I also like the Native American shape shif..."

Totally agree with your thoughts! If he had (view spoiler)[gone with having both boys survive, it wouldn’t have been as good of an ending. (hide spoiler)]
Glad you finished and liked it! I think he could easily revisit this plot in the future.