Title: Breathe In, Bleed Out
Author: Brian McAuley
Genre: Horror
Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.
I’m familiar with Brian McAuley from attending StokerCon and hearing him on Books in the Freezer, but this was the first I’ve read of his, and wow, was it awesome!
Five friends head to Joshua Tree for a spiritual retreat, led by Guru Pax and his assistant, Kimi. Hannah is recovering from the loss of her fiancé, while Tess is trying to find who she is deep down. Miles, the sensitive musician, has always had a thing for Hannah, and the couple Derek and Luna make an effort to reconnect. However, the desert has other plans.
As Hannah ventures out on her own, seeking peace, her friends are battling for their lives. The body count rises with some fun, creative kills, and Hannah has to solve the mystery of just who is doing the killing. A person? Or has she just been hallucinating this entire time?
I read this book in just a couple of days. I loved the unique deaths that McAuley came up with for several characters, some of which I was glad to see gone because they were so obnoxious…. others, I was bummed they were offed, but understood that you do have to kill your darlings at times. Definitely recommend this one.
Pleasant Nights 