I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Another high quality novel from Darkfuse. I have come to expect, both from Darkfuse as well as from Keith Deininger, dark novels or novellas that explore the dark side of human nature or the human condition rather than trot out old tired story lines about monsters that are predictable from the first few pages. Literary horror? Thinking person’s horror? Not sure what label to put on it, or if I should even try, but I can say that you have to keep your mind open and be prepared to think more than you jump.

I have heard it said that real art releases or exposes what lies in the heart or mind of the artist. What if a truly gifted artist, through the act of creation, releases not what is in their soul, but instead opens a door into hell itself—opening a channel through which flows a churning river of evil, a tide that rises and threatens to overflow our reality?

Dark stuff from a very talented writer. I must also say that one thing that I like about Deininger’s writing is that he never loses his narrative voice and characterization, even with the metaphysical aspects of the story come to the forefront and the line between alternate realities start to blur and overlap. I never lost my sense of where the characters were and how the plot was progressing inexorably toward the dark conclusion.
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Bravo!! I'm a sucker for stories about evil in small towns and this one is right up there with the best of them.
 
As I read, I couldn't help but think about Salem's Lot. I felt like the Upshaw Mansion was comparable to the Marsten house-the center of the evil in this small town,( in this case, Mesa Rapids instead of Jerusalem's Lot.)
 
I enjoyed the plucky characters here, most especially young Zach. A few of the characters were simply drawn, but I'm okay with that, because I loved the imaginative descriptions of things going on in different rooms at the mansion. Not to beat the Stephen King comparison horse to death, but some of these scenes put me in mind of The Shining. There were quick peeks into rooms filled with blood and madness and then we're off to the next insanity-causing room.  
 
Throughout this tour of hell, I kept thinking about how much fun I was having. In that regard, this story seemed like more of a novella than a short novel, -it just went by so fast! I liked how the story wrapped up, leaving room for a return to these characters or to just the town itself. And whatever happened to Mister M? I can't wait to find out. Overall, I loved this story-I found it imaginative, creative and fun. If you like "evil in a small town" type tales, I highly recommend you check this one out! Just don't blame me for the nightmares. 
 
 
*I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review. This is it!* ( )

I skimmed to the end of this one after the first few chapters. ( )

A town with a dark history...when a new resident moves into the old dilapidated Upshaw Mansion, history comes alive again in Mesa Rapids. Affecting its inhabitants, the town and especially the rooms and surroundings of the Upshaw Mansion turn into a nightmare vision resembling a Hieronymus Bosch painting (who is mentioned, quite fittingly, in the book). Only a handful of people are able to see the truth and discover that something truly evil is about to be released. Will they be able to stop it before it's too late?

The story is told in very short chapters, each named after the character who is the main focus of that chapter. This made reading a very fast-paced process and allowed to see events from several perspectives, which helped put the pieces together. There also was a part documenting the town's history, which gave a lot of explanations to the questions raised by the creepy events taking place. Together with the interspersed diary entries of Colin, who is hired to paint at the Upshaw Mansion and thus, unknowingly, wake something terrible from the past, we get a good idea what is going on.

The well-drawn main characters, especially Colin, were not all easily likable, which perfectly worked to make them real and believable. The book had a constant dream-like quality, and I felt like stepping into a nightmare where unimaginable things happened. However, the townsfolk participating in this sick dream were unable to see what was really going on and even enjoyed their cruel acts, like at a never-ending party in hell.

While the story had some predictable moments, it was unputdownable until the end, which still held a surprise.

However, I still wonder why the author chose to name the buyer of the mansion Klimt - with the constant references to art and the main subject of painting, I would have expected some connection to the painter...

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review) ( )

Review copy

There is one question which is prevalent throughout Within.

Is this a dream?

At times it's difficult to tell as Keith Deininger's latest novel effectively blurs the line between reality and dreams.

Within is told in a first person narrative, by a number of principal characters. There's Colin (the young artist who comes to town wanting to make a name for himself), Zach (a young boy with an eerie connection to the mansion next door), Lauren ( who receives a mysterious invite to one of the mansion's frequent parties), Maddy ( a young artist and roommate of Colin) and Klimt (the mansion's elusive current resident). Despite all the disparate points of view, the writer still manages to create a strong cohesive story.

It took a bit of time to become familiar with each of the characters, but by then I was totally immersed in a story which revealed it's secrets carefully, and became increasingly creepy.

In addition to the creep factor, there was a good deal of sex and violence. All driven by the story which added to, rather than distracted from, it's overall effectiveness.

At the center of the tale is the Upshaw mansion, although there hadn't been an Upshaw living in Mesa Rapids in several decades. Is it the house itself that's causing the weird events all over town or is it Harold Klimt, it's new tenant which has people in town acting strangely--more foolhardy, more excitable than usual?

If you're looking for a story with a happy ending, keep looking. Within is brutal with it's characters and if you're fortunate enough to survive, it's not "happily ever after."

Within is available for pre-order now through Amazon.com from Darkfuse publishers. The release date is May 5th, 2015. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you'll be able to read this one at no additional charge once it's published.

Definitely recommended. ( )