Tag: Psychological thrillers

Book to movie adaptation: ‘The Cabin at the End of the World’ by Paul Tremblay

‘The Cabin at the End of the World’ is the inspiration for the new M. Night Shyamalan movie Knock at the Cabin, now in theaters. Photo: Amazon

Paul Tremblay is the author of the Bram Stoker Award and Locus Award winning “The Cabin at the End of the World,” winner of the British Fantasy Award “Disappearance at Devil’s Rock,” and Bram Stoker Award/Massachusetts Book Award winning “A Head Full of Ghosts.” He is also the author of the novels “The Little Sleep,” “No Sleep till Wonderland,” “Swallowing a Donkey’s Eye,” and “Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn’t Fly” (co-written with Stephen Graham Jones). His essays and short fiction have appeared in the Los Angeles Times and numerous “year’s best” anthologies. He is the co-editor of four anthologies including “Creatures: Thirty Years of Monster Stories” (with John Langan). “The Cabin at the End of the World” is a terrifying twist to the home invasion novel and the

inspiration for the upcoming major motion picture from Universal Pictures. Knock at the Cabin is an apocalyptic psychological horror movie written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan starring Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki-Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn, and Rupert Grint. (Amazon, 2023)

“The Cabin at the End of the World: A Novel” – Seven-year-old Wen and her parents, Eric and Andrew, are vacationing at a remote cabin on a quiet New Hampshire lake. Their closest neighbors are more than two miles in either direction along a rutted dirt road. One afternoon, as Wen catches grasshoppers in the front yard, a stranger unexpectedly appears in the driveway. Leonard is the largest man Wen has ever seen, but he is young, friendly, and he wins her over almost instantly. Leonard and Wen talk and play until Leonard abruptly apologizes and tells Wen, “None of what’s going to happen is your fault.” Three more strangers then arrive at the cabin carrying unidentifiable, menacing objects. As Wen sprints inside to warn her parents, Leonard calls out: “Your dads won’t want to let us in, Wen. But they have to. We need your help to save the world.” Thus begins an unbearably tense, gripping tale of paranoia, sacrifice, apocalypse, and survival that escalates to a shattering conclusion, one in which the fate of a loving family and quite possibly all of humanity are entwined. “The Cabin at the End of the World” is a masterpiece of terror and suspense from the fantastically fertile imagination of Paul Tremblay.

Photo: Google

Book review: ‘Cast No Shadow’ by Nancy Leonard

‘Cast No Shadow’ is the new psychological thriller by ‘Nancy Leonard.’ Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Nancy Leonard is an award-winning novelist who retired from a career as a physical therapist and rehabilitation clinic manager to pursue writing full time. Her focus is on psychological suspense thrillers, her specialty is in-depth character development with extensive research into Blackfeet Native American culture, wildland firefighting, and modern Middle Eastern culture and politics. She is the author of the Relentless River Series that consists of eight interconnected novels. While battling evil influences and life and death situations, characters cope with events in their pasts that have molded them while wrestling with their own morality. The series includes “Headwaters,” “Becomes A Horseman,” and “The Earth’s Backbone.” Her new novel “Cast No Shadow” involves the destructive collision between a psychopathic patriarch, Frederick Weingarten, and the two sons he dominates. (Amazon, 2022)

“Cast No Shadow” – The story begins as Bruce Weingarten and Alec Cummings are called into their father’s office. They are foster brothers who over the years have been manipulated to battle each other, especially for leadership of the family business. A woman, Eleanor, has been disrupting the father’s business interests and he wants her rattled into backing off. Fearing an innocent woman could be killed if he does not comply with Frederick’s instructions, Alec assaults her as instructed and is almost beaten to death in retribution when his identity is discovered. Tormented and in a rage of total despair and failure, his brother Bruce attempts to run two women off the road during a blizzard. They avoid serious harm but the horror of what he has become enables him to begin rebuilding his life. The young men’s attempts to free themselves from their father’s malevolent domination unleashes Frederick’s unrestrained rage at their betrayal. Alice Sanders and Tashi Long, two Blackfeet women who love and support Bruce and Alec, are caught in the crossfire as they become targets of Frederick’s quest for vengeance. They will ultimately battle for their souls and physical survival in the mountainous region and plains of northern Montana.

Psychological manipulation within the family unit has been proven to have lasting harmful effects affecting relationships for years. Such is the case between brothers Bruce and Alec. Although Alec is taken in by the family as a boy due to his abusive father and absent mother, they grow up together. What starts out as friendship develops into a cold and distant relationship brought on by the father’s caustic personality. Told in the first person point of view alternating between Bruce and Alec, readers witness their internal conflicts and their eventual redemption. The excellent character development makes them relatable, especially when Bruce and Alec’s new friends in Montana eventually welcome them as their own. With descriptive language ranging from describing a beating: “Blood is caked on the side of my face and my left eye is almost swollen shut. I have a deep crease of torn tissue under my left ear,” to the beautiful outdoor scenery: “The sapphire sky contrasts with aqua caverns, shimmering up from the glacial ice,” the reader is drawn into the story. The action is fast paced and naturally flows through the pages. Highlights include Chapter 3 which foreshadows Bruce’s change of heart, when he realizes that he is turning into his father, and not in a good way: “Suddenly I stop in horror. This has to stop. I’m becoming my father” and the action on Chapters 34 through 35 when Tashi falls in the ice while trying to rescue a little boy. “Cast No Shadow” is a fascinating story of two brothers who despite their volatile upbringing find ways to liberate themselves. It is a must read psychological thriller recommended for fans of the genre who also appreciate learning about Native American culture.

“I’m as far from all right as it’s possible to be and still be alive. I feel like I’m continually shrinking. Soon I’ll be so small I won’t even cast a shadow.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

New book release: ‘Silent Whispers of Hope’ by Kimberly Morton Cuthrell

‘Silent Whispers of Hope’ is the new suspense thriller by Kimberly Morton Cuthrell. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Dr. & Atty. Kimberly Morton Cuthrell is an attorney, doctoral-level clinical therapist, suspense author, researcher, mediator, and currently a medical school student. She has a quest to create new inroads in suspense novels with behavioral health twists to destigmatize perceptions. Kimberly is a self-publishing consultant/mentor whereby she paved a landscape as a writing coach, ghostwriter, proofreader, professional editor, and beta reader. Kimberly’s interest to write evolved from reading books, writing proposals for grants and contracts that were awarded, composing corporate compliance and policy/procedure manuals within provisions of state and federal laws, and developing behavioral health accreditation manuals. In her fiction work, Kimberly draws from thought-provoking imaginary situations, the art of wisdom, and diverse viewpoints. She writes to intrigue readers’ minds about potential real-life situations and inspire them to advocate for positive change and make meaningful impacts in their communities. Her new book “Silent Whispers of Hope,” Hope Rankin-Glover is faced with a choice between saving her dying mother or forsaking her by vanishing without a trace with her husband in an effort to evade the FBI. (Kimberly Morton Cuthrell, 2022)

“Silent Whispers of Hope” – Hope Rankin-Glover is thrilled to finally escape her mother’s unstable nest. She tries to navigate the dangers of the unprotected world when she finds solace in the arms of Sloan Glover. Little does she know, Sloan has an ulterior motive for marrying her. As Hope struggles to balance her married life, a new business, and the care of her deaf fraternal twins, she finds joy in learning American Sign Language to open avenues of communication with her children. Torn by her traumatic past, she must come to grips with the odds of reversing her twins’ deafness which depends on her actions and comes with a considerable heart-wrenching truth. Seven years later, Hope’s world comes crashing down. The FBI’s discoveries shed light on Sloan’s darkest secrets. In a spiral twist of suspense, a hurtful betrayal derails Hope. The devastating reality of survival plagued by deception pressures Hope to contemplate venturing into an underworld scheme with Sloan. Not only is the underworld scheme filled with silent whispers, but secrets are exposed and lives are trapped in despair. The only way out will either bring forth a lifetime of despair or bitter peace at last. Not everyone is destined to survive and their survival depends on Hope’s actions which force her to take drastic measures. When silent whispers are all Hope has, will that be enough to survive?

“Silent Whispers of Hope” is available through Amazon. Read an excerpt. 

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