Boys in the Valley

De: Philip Fracassi

Narrado por: David Aaron Baker

Duración: 10 h y 55 m

Resumen del Editor

This program is read by David Aaron Baker, who brings the nightmare to life with his sinister narration. He has earned several AudioFile Earphones Awards and has been a three-time finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for Best Male Narrator.

The Exorcist meets Lord of the Flies, by way of Midnight Mass, in Boys in the Valley, a brilliant coming-of-age tale from award-winning author Philip Fracassi.

“A sublimely chilling story.”—Library Journal, STARRED review

St. Vincent's Orphanage for Boys.

Turn of the century, in a remote valley in Pennsylvania.

Here, under the watchful eyes of several priests, thirty boys work, learn, and worship. Peter Barlow, orphaned as a child by a gruesome murder, has made a new life here. As he approaches adulthood, he has friends, a future...a family.

Then, late one stormy night, a group of men arrive at their door, one of whom is badly wounded, occult symbols carved into his flesh. His death releases an ancient evil that spreads like sickness, infecting St. Vincent's and the children within. Soon, boys begin acting differently, forming groups. Taking sides.

Others turn up dead.

Now Peter and those dear to him must choose sides of their own, each of them knowing their lives—and perhaps their eternal souls—are at risk.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Nightfire.

©2023 Philip Fracassi (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“The prose is precise, the terror’s exquisite, and Fracassi’s got his hand on the chisel going into your chest.”—Stephen Graham Jones, New York Times bestselling author of My Heart Is a Chainsaw

“A sublimely chilling story….Fracassi almost cheerfully paints this gloomy tale with painfully beautiful and detailed prose that is not afraid to shy away from gore and terror.”—Library Journal, STARRED review

“Gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, and terrifying.”—Andy Davidson, author of The Hollow Kind

Excellent story

The narrator did a great job! I could not stop listening to this story. It was so wonderfully written.
It was scary, dreadful, yet also filled with hope & love.

WOW!!

A book has not made me feel so much for a really long time. This book was incredible, along with the narrarator. Scary, emotional, heartwarming, heartbreaking.

Great Narration

I saw this book on a list of Top 10 Horror Books of 2023. I thought I would give it a try. It was better than I expected. The narration was great. David Aaron Baker was fabulous once again.

Excellent coming of age horror

Great book in one of my favorite genres. A Catholic boys home, terror, kids turned evil...some that have not. Gruesome horror with choices being made between good and evil, sometimes for survival. through it all there are moments of hope and chances for redemption. I loved this one, Fracassi nailed the genre.

Nasty little gem!

Enjoyed this story very much- characters were well developed, setting/time was interesting, and horror elements were on point!

Great!! Future classic!

Great story! The narrator was great!! I discovered this author when Stephen King tweeted about this book a few years ago. I have been anticipating reading this book for awhile now. The book did not disappoint! I love the beginning quotes. You know a book will be scary when the beginning quotes give you the chills. The characters were well developed and the story line kept me entertained and scared throughout! I highly recommend this book and this author!

Wow! Just wow!

I listen to so many audiobooks sometimes I can’t keep them straight. I won’t have that problem with this one . I began my audiobook journey about four years ago, and I have only felt compelled to write one review in that time-this one. I love a good scary book! This one was so novel in its concept and so different from anything I have listened to before. I didn’t see it coming! There are a few disturbingly gross images if you are sensitive to that, beware. But if you like scary, this is the book for you! This is of a religious good versus evil genre. What a wonderful author and fabulous narrator! I finished my listen in two days. I just couldn’t put it down. Please don’t hesitate to give this a go! I’m now googling what to listen to next just knowing I will be disappointed after this gem!

great

So well written, great pace, really enjoyable. the characters are so well done and the story, though not completely original, I thought it was well done.

Theologically accurate horror thriller!

I listen to a LOT of audiobooks, and this is by far my favorite horror. if you like horror that has to do with theology and is actually scary but ultimately seeing good win, this is your book. Great narration, very hard to put down!

Entertaining enough, but not a horror classic.

It took me a minute to review this one, as I wasn’t quite sure how I felt as I finished it. While I enjoyed this, listen, there are too many things holding this book back for me to add it to my list of instant recommendations.
First off, while the voice actor does an amazing job in all respects His direction for doing the kids. Voices turned out to be quite grating for me. They all seem to have this whiny squeaky, chipmunk voice that makes a lot of the characters run together like the VO was told “just do the most annoying toddler voice you can think of”. His work with the adults was phenomenal, so this really made it even harder for me to stay engaged.
Second, the story pacing isnt good. Once the inciting event happens, we’re in a dead sprint for the demon to face down the good guy, it is by no means the slow burn so many appreciate from a book like “The Exorcist”, where you have ample buildup before Reagan is spinning her head around. With such engaging adult characters and an excellent setting for scary visions, shadows, and demonic shenanigans it’s a true pity the author completely forgoes that advantage for “things are good aaaaaand yup, now things bad” storytelling.
Lastly, (though related to the second point) the book just isn’t scary. There’s no real sense of dread, no real question of “what exactly is going on here!” and no real stakes outside “dont die”. Kids are murdered brutally throughout, but seemingly just for the author to point at while mumbling “eh? Ehhh? Pretty messed up right?”.
I dont know. It wasnt all bad and I did get through it just fine but I can’t say I recommend it.