Review of Hitchers by P.A. Douglas

Review for Hitchers by P. A. Douglas
Publisher: Severed Press

Synopsis:

Grayson, Louisian is such a tiny place you would never think twice when passing on highway 165. That's what Greg Teeter wishes he had done when a series of unfortunate events leave him stranded in this quaint town. In a fight for survival, plagued by dreams, there is on one to trust. Parasitic invisible monsters from another realm have been unleashed. The Hitchers aren't the only thing trying to break into this world. Something much worse is trying to force its way through. Something ancient and carnal. Will the dark secret be revealed in time, or will it be too late?

Available in Kindle and Paperback:

http://www.amazon.com/Hitchers-ebook/dp/B008G1BS92/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1350407560&sr=8-3


Amazon stars: 5/5

When you buy a book from P. A. Douglas, you should expect B-movie, grindhouse-style characters, plot, and gore. This author delivers on his work's promise—you get exactly what you pay for. This is escapist horror at its best.

There's no need to describe the plot because the synopsis tells you exactly what's going to happen. There are no surprises. Douglas maintains a consistent story with characters that are described adequately; no character is wasted. It's not a stretch to compare Douglas to Jonathan Maberry, simply because the novel's structure is masterful; the expository information ever seems forced, and the pacing is always maintained well. The characters are developed without providing erroneous details, and the integrity of the plot is never sacrificed to simply make the characters seem more "real," as some authors attempt to do. Every detail is important to the story and its characters. 

The most interesting thing about Douglas, as with Maberry, is that readers may be inclined to feel a sense of loath OR sympathy for any one of these characters at any given time. Each character is presented as a flawed person who is forced to deal with the terrifying circumstances, which allows Douglas to actually IMPROVE upon the grindhouse formula to make his book a more interesting read.

I am also pleased the novel provides a subtle social commentary that doesn't ever take center stage, although it helps serve as a catalyst for the novel's conflicts. The downtrodden little hamlet of Grayson actually complements the horrifying creatures that are terrorizing its denizens. I also enjoyed the metaphoric nature of the monsters in their connection to human nature.

My only complaint about the work is the writing style. I prefer more detailed, poetic writing, but this isn’t actual criticism of the book itself, because the writing suits both the genre and tone of the book. Thus, my own personal hang-ups with the sentence structure does not detract at all from what the novel achieves, nor does it mean that the work isn't suitable for its intended audience. In fact, if this book were written any differently, it wouldn't work. The writing is clear and concise, and I was rewarded by remaining open-minded throughout the entire experience. I would read more of Douglas's work.