This is a fantastic and very original story about a book that is supposed to be haunted or possessed or some other kind of evil that will terrorise the reader physically and mentally after reading.  Jesse didn't believe the hype and went ahead and read it.  Awful things start happening to Jesse and at first he thinks it's all a set up, some elaborate game his friends have set up for him.  But then things get much worse and Jesse can no longer tell what is real and what is just in his messed up head.  A twisted and sometimes gory horror with a bit of science fiction thrown in too.  I loved it!

At the start of this novel I didn't notice any "rumors of a "deadly book" as mentioned in the description, but after recovering addict and rock and roller Jesse performs at a reunion of his former band there is mention that he read a book that was recommended to him. On his way home to his wife and son after the show, he hears a horrifying radio broadcast that seems to be for his ears only. I thought this was an incredibly creepy start, but as the story went on it felt more like a science fiction than the horror I was hoping for. Still it was very creative as Jesse tries to find his way out of a nightmare world that seems to have been invented only for him.

OH MY WORD.... How to explain this book! I know there are a lot of readers out there that just did not like it, but for me, Will Haunt You was absolutely fantastic! 
At this point in time in my life, this has seriously been one of the most interesting books I've ever read.... and also at the top of my list as far as thought provoking goes. Never in my life have I ever read a book that had my mind so racing as to figure out the plot of the story, to understand what was happening in the main character's life and to try and understand the point to it all. Even with all my annotations to go back to and revise.... I still got the ending completely wrong!! It certainly wasn't what I thought it would be.
The genre for this novel has been set as horror/thriller/mystery, but I would also like to throw some Bizarro into that mix since there are a lot of bizarre events taking place in this here story.
This was a beautifully written and a very well plotted novel with characters I just loved to hate (I even felt a bit of disdain for the protagonist). Favorite quotes in this book: "Alcoholism isn't a disease; it's a possession. That's why we fight it with faith." or "Insecure men consider emotion a weakness. Men who have faced their demons and survived think different." *heart*
As for the author.... I loved his style in writing and the way he narrated the events of this very dark tale. At least it was done with a lot of dark humor (something else that made me like the book even more). This man's comments and sentiments about life is gloomy and beautiful at the same time, and (according to me) right on the money. Life sure isn't a Disney movie, and things are constantly thrown in our path that we need to overcome.
I wish I could divulge more about this intricate tale, but I'm afraid to do so. Afraid that the new readers out there might be able to figure this out before they come to the end and I really, badly need everyone to read to the end and feel the full impact of this story as I did.
Just one more things I need to say:
If you are anything like me (forgetful and easily distracted) I really can't stress the importance of annotations enough!! You will want them and will need them to keep the storyline straight in your head. The first half of this book can be confusing at times and you'll want to revisit those notes. 
I would just like to thank Brian Kirk, Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this extraordinary book. It sure was one hell of a journey...

I'm not sure exactly how to summarize this book, but I'll give it a go:

Jesse is an aging guitarist for a metal band. After performing a reunion show with his band, he's abducted and things get really strange. Throughout the book, he's not sure what is real and what isn't. There are situations he's put in that shouldn't be possible, but are too real not to be. It doesn't help that people he knows and trusts may be in on it too - or are they? He doesn't know why this is happening or what he can do to escape. The story gets kind of meta too, which was interesting. We are told over and over not to read this book. We know Jesse read it, and that must be why he's been taken. But we don't know why. And I'm not sure if we ever really find out why. 

Will Haunt You had great atmosphere. The beginning hooks you, you want to know so badly what is going on. That feeling of mystery and anxiety carry through to the end, but I felt the ending itself was a little convoluted. This ending wasn't meant to be ambiguous, I don't think at least - I felt like there was sort of an explanation as to what had happened and why Jesse was chosen, but it wasn't clear to me. I don't mind when things aren't laid out nice and neatly for me, but I felt this book tried to do that and I just still didn't get it. I did really love the parts with the homunculus, but again. Not really sure how they were supposed to fit into the story.

There were a few other minor things that just didn't quite jive for me. Very minor, but they just aren't true to what would go on in real life.

Will Haunt You had an ambitious plot line, and I can appreciate that. The writing had a cinematic feel, it was a pleasure to read. However, some parts of the story didn't mesh well with others and the ending left me with just as many questions as I had at the beginning of the book.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press, and Brian Kirk for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Creepy, atmospheric and funny in parts. Great ghost story which I really enjoyed and jumped at. Great characters

I couldn’t finish this book. And my main problem with it is that the description we get doesn’t reflect what the book portrays. I was expecting maybe some family/character drama around a haunted and cultish book. And I still think that’s the impression we get from the synopsis. But that’s not what we get.  

There’s no intrigue around a book. We’re directly brought to the fallout, and we just know that the main character read a weird book. That’s it. 

Of course, because I DNF’ed it, I don’t know if this turns out to be explained. But adding that expectation that wasn’t met with the portrayal of toxic masculinity, gory horror (that isn’t my thing) and confusing sci-fi out of nowhere, it just isn’t for me. 

The section about the boy in the orphanage was pretty cool though.

Full review:
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I went into Will Haunt You nearly blind. I didn’t know anything about the plot, or really what to expect. After hearing some excellent early praise for Brian Kirk’s new novel, I decided to read the prequel, OBSIDEO (more on that later). After I got through the first couple of chapters, I thought I knew where I was headed. Something strange, something violent. Perhaps a mix between Bentley Little and Brian Keene? But while Will Haunt You does sit at the table with Little and Keene, this isn’t a reheated narrative. It’s heart-breaking and visceral, while also bringing its own brand of dark humor. It’s a horror novel that wears its ingenuity and wit on its bloody sleeves.

This book focuses on aging rocker Jesse Wheeler. After reading a book given to him by a fellow band member, Jesse is dragged into what turns out to be the worst kind of nightmare. He’s chased, tortured, and forced to confront his demons in life. His tormentors are cruel and seemingly omnipotent. Will Haunt You plays with perception and conspiracy in a way that I rarely see. I had a blast reading through this. It certainly helps that Jesse is an excellent character to travel with. He’s both wry and realistic, with just the right amount of self-deprecation. His actions are largely driven by his wife and son, who play major parts in Jesse’s hellish journey.

But while I think Jesse is great, he’s not the true star of the show. I want to avoid dragging you further into Spoiler Town, but I will say that the antagonistic force of Will Haunt You is utterly terrifying. This haunting takes on many forms, and I enjoyed all of them. The horror of this book is bizarre and feels like something that came dripping out of a monster’s fever dream. A great horror novel often earns its crown through its set pieces, and Brian delivers them in spades. I had no idea what would be waiting for Jesse around each corner. Each new location brought out a fresh bout of anxiety for me. Who can be trusted? What form will the next torment take? 

As a Bizarro horror novel, Will Haunt You really works. It’s inventive, emotional, and harrowing. The central thrust of the book makes for thoroughly engrossing reading. Some writers have trouble making their strange happenings believable, but Brian Kirk is certainly not one of them. The only real gripe I had was that the ending, which didn’t quite coalesce for me. It wrapped up too quickly, leaving me a bit confused. It’s not a deal breaker by any means, but that’s a testament to how excellent the rest of the book is. 

If you love weird fiction, Will Haunt You is worth your time. Pick up the book. Embrace the oddity. Just be prepared for what waits for you after that last page…

Also: Brian Kirk wrote a short companion piece called OBSIDEO. It’s a potent piece of Creepypasta that is the perfect introduction to the book that follows. Seek it out, and heed the warnings inside. Trust me. Would I lead you astray?

I'm afraid this book just didn't do it for me.

It was incredibly difficult to follow, chapters that seemed to fill space instead of advancing the story, and the story never really seemed to finish.

It felt like a chore reading it at some stages and left me with a lot of questions.  I was hoping to feel threatened throughout the novel due to the tagline but even at the end I just felt relieved that I'd finished it.

Will Haunt You by Brian Kirk is a character-driven tale of cosmic horror that reminds readers that there are dark, dangerous, possible futures lurking on the horizon, unexplainable, inescapable, beyond human comprehension.

Jesse Wheeler, former guitarist for a heavy metal band called The Rising Dead, is a sellout.  He gave up his musical pipe dream to become a commercial jingle writer.  However, he has two good reasons–a wife and a disabled son who count on his support.  Jesse is a good guy with a raunchy backstory of sex, booze, drugs, and rock and roll.  He has been living on the straight and narrow for seven years.  One bad decision changes everything; he reads a cursed book.  He was warned, but he read it anyway.  On the night of a successful Rising Dead ten-year reunion, his life path goes sideways.  While driving home from the concert, Jesse’s car dies.  He quickly finds himself being attacked by tire-iron wielding backwoods mechanics.  After a prolonged attempt to escape, he is eventually captured and wakes on an examination table in an underground torture chamber that operates like an alternate universe.  Thus, he begins his true journey.  He must fight for survival and to get home to his family.

The most notable aspect of the book is the main character Jesse Wheeler.  The first-person point of view allows readers an intimate, honest access into his thoughts.  This character is unconditionally developed.  His voice is real, accurate, and honest, offering entré  into the life of a rocker with nothing held back.  Readers will wonder how the author gained such detailed insight into this ill-fated personality.  Kirk manages to reveal the character in a natural, unstrained way.  Jesse possesses deep insight into his past and its ramifications.  Many of his thoughts are perceptive, often philosophical.  His number one drive is to protect his family and perhaps to gain redemption along the way.

Although the cursed book or item trope is not an original concept on which to base a plot, the unique protagonist in Will Haunt You tells the tale from a distinctive, quirky perspective, thereby creating a denaturalizing effect.  The plot becomes somehow new.  Since the story is driven by a single, marginalized character, it lacks complexity except for a short episode that includes Jesse’s wife and child.  A diary episode interrupts the flow and fragments the plot trajectory, but it manages to add intertextuality to the mix, which fans of postmodernism will enjoy.  The only significant weakness in the plot are the torture scenes which may appear pointless or repetitive to some.  However, readers who enjoy the genre will dig in, hoping to find meaning or the possibility of commentary on modern society.

The prose is smooth, conversational, and easy to read.  All aspects of the text are on the surface and thus lack the inclusion of the finer things of literature such as symbolism and sub-textual undercurrents.  However, one could say that the entire journey is a metaphor that attempts to warn readers to closely consider their life choices before it’s too late, before they must strive for redemption.

The audience most likely to enjoy Will Haunt You might be a younger crowd that will identify with the protagonist and relish a truly disturbing tale of cosmic adventure.

The cosmic question might be whether reading any book can change a reader.  Many would say the answer is a resounding yes.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for a review.

Below is an except from the blurb

"You don’t read the book. It reads you. Rumors of a deadly book have been floating around the dark corners of the deep web. A disturbing tale about a mysterious figure who preys on those who read the book and subjects them to a world of personalized terror. Jesse Wheeler—former guitarist of the heavy metal group The Rising Dead—was quick to discount the ominous folklore associated with the book. It takes more than some urban legend to frighten him. "

I have to say when I  read the blurb I was quite excited to read this book.  Unfortunately, it did not quite live up to my expectations.  The book was ok but just didn't hold my attention.  All the elements were in there but it just didn't quite work for me and at times felt disjointed.

Though this has had comparisons to HOUSE OF :LEAVES, I don't think that WILL HAUNT YOU lives up to the other book. I went in thinking that it was going to focus more on the urban legend issue of the mysterious book, but we got straight into the fallout and once we did it became a little haphazard and confusing in the chaos. While I appreciated the metaphors about facing your past and your demons, a lot of the mythology and execution of said metaphors left me feeling cold. There was definitely potential here, and by the end I was able to wrap my head about everything, but it felt a bit too little, too late. While I wouldn't steer all horror fans away from WILL HAUNT YOU, I don't know if it will find connection to as many fans as it would like.

This book follows Jesse, a retired heavy metal guitarist and recovering alcoholic, as he falls down a metaphorical rabbit hole of horror after reading a cursed book. What he read in that book has led to the events that he now faces, and it’s only at the very end that we find out why.

There’s a meta- feel to this book in that the reader is warned to stop reading this book, lest we also be sucked in to a similar, awful turn of events. Obviously, horror readers are not going to fall for that line and if a cursed book really did exist, we’re too stubborn for our own good and would totally read it while enjoying a good cup of tea.

I must confess, this book didn’t really do it for me and I struggled to really understand the ‘why-ness’ of it all. But I did appreciate how the author masterfully blends horror with psychological suspense caused by Jesse’s own guilt and neuroses, it kept me invested to the very end.
The book is fast paced and covers a lot of ground, most of which is bizarre and horrifying in every conceivable way!

Fans of Stephen King and unreliable narrators will love this book, I can very much appreciate that though it wasn’t the book for me that other horror fans will get very excited about what this book has to offer.

Will Haunt You by Brian Kirk is an interesting book. The main character is an ex-rock band member who is definitely not happy with the choices he's made in life, but he's not completely aware of this fact at the opening of the story. He's ended up writing jingles for a living, married to a woman because they got pregnant, and caring for a very disabled young child. The story starts at a band reunion and then things GO ALL TO HELL. It's quite a ride - from being chased through a sewer by men out of Deliverance to being abandoned in a cabin in the woods surrounded by cavemen (maybe?). The book often breaks the fourth wall, warning you about reading the book in your hands. Which was fine except the ending, to me, fell sort of flat - I wish that the author had just plainly spoken at times instead of just alluding to what was happening. The ending confused me rather than scaring me. But that's just my reaction and maybe I need to go back and read the last few chapters again. All in all, worth the read for this man's terrifying journey.

Title: Will Haunt You

Author: Brian Kirk

Pages:288

Genre:horror

Publisher:Flame Tree Press

book synopsis



You don't read the book. It reads you.

Rumors of a deadly book have been floating around the dark corners of the deep web. A disturbing tale about a mysterious figure who preys on those who read the book and subjects them to a world of personalized terror. Jesse Wheeler--former guitarist of the heavy metal group The Rising Dead--was quick to discount the ominous folklore associated with the book. It takes more than some urban legend to frighten him. Hell, reality is scary enough. Seven years ago his greatest responsibility was the nightly guitar solo. Then one night when Jesse was blackout drunk, he accidentally injured his son, leaving him permanently disabled. Dreams of being a rock star died when he destroyed his son's future. Now he cuts radio jingles and fights to stay clean. But Jesse is wrong.

The legend is real--and tonight he will become the protagonist in an elaborate scheme specifically tailored to prey on his fears and resurrect the ghosts from his past. Jesse is not the only one in danger, however.

By reading the book, you have volunteered to participate in the author's deadly game, with every page drawing you closer to your own personalized nightmare.

The real horror doesn't begin until you reach the end. That's when the evil comes for you.



My thoughts 

Would I recommend it: No

Will I read anything else by this author: don't know

When I say the cover I was hopping for book that was going to keeping me up all night reading and one that was going to be scary and creepy , and sadly it didn't do any of those things, in fact there was times I wanted to DNF it but I didn't for I kept hopping it would get better and win me over ,once again it didn't do any those thing, its not a story kept me wanting to read it , in fact there was non thing I liked about it at all ,  it didn't pull me in to , it didn't hook me , it was just boring and confusing .With that said I want to thank Netgalley for letting me read it and review it exchange for my honest opinion.

I had high hopes for this book liked the blurb thought it would be something different but no i just could not get into it. it lost me about half way in and it barely made it to the end i wish so much more had been done with the premise as it started so well



Thank you to netgalley and flaming tree press for the digital ARC in return for an unbiased review

I finally finished it!!!
I will admit, this book was very diffucult to read for me. There were points when i was truly invested and couldn't put it down, but then other points when i was having to re-read pages just to understand what was happening. There is alot of unnecessary descriptions througout Mr. Kirk's writing. I feel like that is a persons' preference and may be enjoyed by some readers. I feel like we see alot of the writers personality in this book. I liked the main character enough. I do feel like some of the book was a bit pretentious. Mostly towards the end with all of the "phylisophical" jargan. There was no clear explination as to why this was all happening and seemed a bit lazy with explaining it. I REALLY enjoyed the segment about the boy in the boys foster home, and the letters written by the woman in the cabin. I'd have loved to have read more about them! Overall, i gave it a 3, because i feel like he has some good stuff going on here, but it could use a bit more polishing in my opinion. I am very greatful to have received a copy of this ARC to review.
(Also, there is a typo on page 169, "Cassie" has three s's instead of the two)

Thank you to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press and Brian Kirk for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
Will Haunt You is a novel about a disturbing book that, if read, a mysterious figure will subject you to a world of personalized terror.
And the chances are, that on reading this, it will happen to you too.

There are some things I felt were excellent about this book and some that I feel could have maybe been shorter or just omitted completely.  Some may find halfway through the book that things become confusing but stay with it as it does come together. The writer really had some gems of unnerving bits in the book that I enjoyed immensely. The book has a very dark and menacing tone to it and is very surreal which makes it all the more spooky. 
There are some bizarre scenes which could be described as almost hallucinogenic dreams at times. I feel that this is intentional as to make you think what is real and what isn't. I think the writing style of this author could be compared to Clive Barker so prepare yourself for the bizarre and the dark.
The book does start off rally strong and the ending is just dynamite. This is a novel that true horror fans will enjoy and devour!
Thank you to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press and Brian Kirk for the ARC; this is my honest review and opinion.

Wow, this was an interesting book! I really liked it, but after I finished it I went to Goodreads to read the reviews and I found a lot of people hated it 😂 it was kind of surprising to me but each to their own. I found this book hard to follow at times, the plot kind of zig zags all over the place at some points, but I really liked the super creepy ending. 
This is one of those books that proves that you have to read something and make up your own mind, you can't always trust the reviews 😀😀 
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Will Haunt You had one of the creepiest, and terrifying beginnings I can remember reading in a long time. Within the first half dozen chapters I was filled with an overwhelming sense of terror. The journey Jesse found himself on was a nightmare straight out of the movie Inception. Each layer crazier than the one before it, and it didn’t let up for a good portion of the story.
Will Haunt You had some great passages, like ‘You know how you can animate a series of drawings by flipping the pages? That was how my face was printed on the wall.’ That is a hell of a description. There were many more great passages here and many statements that were a slap to the face, a shot between the eyes. Ones that make you wonder and ones that tighten your chest. ‘We live in a psychotic world and the only way out is death’. Damn if that isn’t a harsh and brutal view, and it was exactly the world Jesse was struggling to survive.
As much as I loved the horrors and thought-provoking moments, which there were many, I more I read, the more lost I became. The story started to feel like it had gone in too many directions. For those who remember the greatness of the TV show LOST, this was the vibe I was getting. Many questions, too few answers.
Will Haunt You was great read for three quarters of the book, then I thought what the hell is happening. I could feel the momentum leaking from the pages and I wasn’t thrilled with the conclusion. Something was amiss, and I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. It was like knowing you missed a crucial five-minute segment of a movie, or the last line of a joke just before the punchline. I was left with mixed emotions and hoped for more in the end.

I started this book with high hopes and quickly realized I wouldn't be into it.
It had a strong beginning but flamed out somewhere in the middle.
Great idea, great author, mediocre book.
Thanks #netgalley and #flamingtreepress