Book Reviews of Afraid

I could not put this book down. I read 3/4 of it in one day, staying up until long after midnight. The writing is not too flowery or descriptive, just the facts, ma'am, which is how I like it. What struck me about this book is that the scenario presented is one that could easily and quite frighteningly become a reality. I rated this book 5 stars, which is something I don't do very often. It's not for the faint of heart. If violence bothers you, don't read it. If you like a good scary thriller, read it.

By the second page I almost said "I don't think I can read this". It was just "waaaay" to scary for me. But as it always is with me I just kept going, because I am curious to see how bad it could possibly be next page and before I knew it I couldn't put this book down. It was scary---probably one of the scarest books i've read--much more so than King and Sraub and the rest of those "Boo in the dark authors." If you like to be scared--you will love this one.

although not my normal genre, I love the author and his style so I thought I would take a chance, it was a good book that moved very fast, some unrealistic things of course, but that is how horror is. If you like the Jack Daniels series (Jack Kilborn is JA Konrath) then take a look at this book, it moves as fast and leaves out all the flowery detail that is not needed in a thriller.

This is a fast, fun (?) read. The violence is quite graphic in parts, so if that bothers you, you should choose another book. If you'd like a b-movie in a book, though, Afraid is for you.

Nothing ever happens in Safe Haven, Wisconsin, a sleepy little town isolated from neighboring towns by thick woods and accessible by only a single road in and out. And that's the way the 907 residents of Safe Haven like it... until that idyllic isolation turns into their worst nightmare.

On a peaceful evening under a hunter's moon an explosion lights up the sky as a helicopter carrying a Red Ops military unit crashes into the woods just outside of town. The Red-Ops team is made up of psychopathic killers who have been scientifically enhanced and specially trained to exploit their individual perversions for military objectives. Unfortunately for the town's residents, the Red-Ops team survives the crash, descends upon the town, cuts them off from the outside world, and unleashes utter destruction on everyone and everything in their path.

In the face of brutal circumstances thrust upon them, ordinary people are forced to confront their beliefs and to look deep within themselves to see what they are really made of. What does the lifelong supporter of Amnesty International do when violence threatens her child? How does the fireman who has never had to do anything heroic in his sleepy little Midwestern town react? And if you're the Sheriff who's old and alone, beaten and broken, do you give up and lay down, or do you keep putting one foot in front of the other because people are counting on you to do so? Such are the soul testing situations the hapless people of Safe Haven find themselves facing.

The relentless pace and extreme terror of Afraid are the hooks being used to promote this book, justifiably so, but if you focus a little deeper there's much more going on here than just a scary story. Kudos to Mr. Kilborn for creating a genuinely terrifying story that actually has depth to go with its death and destruction.

Fast paced thriller that never gets slow or boring. This is one of those guilty pleasures. You know you are reading a bunch of hooey, but you just can't help yourself from hanging on to the ride.

Small towns have long been a main source for horror fare, for logical reason, and this book is no exception. The small town of Safe Haven, Wisconsin is anything but a safe haven when a helicopter crash unleashes something terrifying on the unsuspecting residents. For anyone who has ever lived in a small, isolated, one road in and out town, this book will definitely strike a chord. From man's depravity and greed, to the will to survive unspeakable horror, this book runs the full range of human nature, and does so quite well.

This is quite a good read, though a bit graphic in the violence department. I found it to actually be a rather gripping tale. Though a sensitive person may be disturbed by the violence (think a 'Saw' movie in book form), it is otherwise a title I would strongly recommend to any horror/thriller fans out there. With believable characters, a realistic storyline (it hasn't happened in real life, but you can easily imagine that it could), and just enough terror to be haunting, it is a good read in the genre. Overall, I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. But for the genre, it ranks a solid 4/5.

Excellent book. VERY fast paced, a story that is action packed from the second paragraph on. Its rather violent and not for the faint of heart though.

Book is pretty intense, hard to put down once you begin reading. This is the first book I've read by this author but will definitely read more.

Awesome read.My first by this author, definitely not the last.I had to make myself put it down to get sleep, but I picked it up first thing the next morning.

Yes, I was very afraid. I began reading this book in the crowded breakroom at work and realized my heart was beating pretty fast. I considered stopping right where I was, but then was too afraid, not too. This book is intense,full of action and engrossing.

This book is more violence and gore than horror. If you are a fan of James Rollins, "Afraid" is a book for you. The plot revolves around a handful of characters who are embroiled in survival mode, fighting against a brutal pack of "enhanced soldiers (killing machines)

I felt this was a very good action book. The primes was a little far fetched, but so what its still a good story. I enjoyed and defiantly recommend.

Great book. Very faced paced. Couldn't put it down. The characters draw you into their struggle.

Good book! Enjoyed it

What a great read! Started off with a bang and never let up. A gory, wild ride that you won't want to end. Enough twist and turns to keep anyone interested. I would give it more thumbs up, if I had more thumbs. Great book!

Great reading! Being a fan of police shows instead of The Bachelor(yuk!) this one will grip you from the start and then hold on---what a ride!

Jack Kilborn, J.A. Konrath's pen name, is masterful with this suspense/horror/thriller. The tension is constant, pulling and tugging as you follow the characters from one location to the next. And just when you think you've figured it out, Konrath's twisted mind sends you into a dark corner to bite on your nails.

Scary? You bet.
Gorey? Oh yeah.
Compelling? Definitely.
Worth reading? Again and again.

Jack Kilborn is also J.A. Konrath, author of the Jack Daniels mystery series. Afraid is a great, gory thriller. While I have nothing against supernatural horror stories, I particularly liked the realism in Afraid that kept me thinking this could actually happen. Although I don't know how much of the science in the story is actually possible (I'm sure that the brain-downloading technology at least is fantasy), still there was nothing that struck me as being too far-fetched.

In the story, a helicopter containing members of an experimental military unit crashes in an isolated small town. This unit is composed of a handful of physically and mentally-enhanced sociopaths who immediately begin torturing and killing the townspeople. As you are introduced to individuals in the small town, you get a good feel for who they are which makes it all the more intense when it happens.

The various ways that people reacted to what was happening reminded me a little of the non-fiction book "The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes and Why." Some people seemed to run headfirst into situations with no thought of what kind of danger might be waiting for them while others paid attention to the danger signs & were more likely to survive.

This book was intense and suspenseful and I couldn't put this book down until I finished it. I read this book in one night, that's how good it was.