Not very impressed. Multiple plot lines that don't come together until about 80% of the way through. Things begin to get exciting just to end on an open note. No resolution. Disappointed overall. ( )

Fast-paced and entertaining this book is not flawless, but overall the enjoyment I got reading the story far outpaced any minor complaints I had with the story in general. If you like dark suspense and action I would think you would find the story worth the time to read. It's got horror-ish elements but reminds me far more of Koontz style than say, King. ( )

I received a ARC of this book for a honest review. I know that this is listed as horror fiction, but it felt too tame for horror. It felt like it wanted to be a supernatural novel regarding a bizarre artifact brought forth from a novel that is desired by a cult called The Pitch. On a snowy Christmas Eve, a showdown occurs between innocents caught in the crossfire and the cult. This was a very difficult novel to get through. There was never a true connection with any of the characters, and at times the action was confusing. Overall, an okay novel. ( )

In Pitch Dark by Steven Sidor it is Christmas Eve and Vera Coffey is on the run. She has stolen an artifact, an artifact that her boyfriend had stolen for Horus Whitehead and a cult called the Pitch. Now she is being pursued by unknown, murderous cult members. Just outside of a small town in northern Minnesota, Vera picks up Adam, a nineteen year old college student who has run out of gas. Adam is the son of Wyatt and Opal Larkin. The Larkins, survivors of a shooting spree that occurred almost twenty years earlier, now run a motel in American Rapids, MN. While shooting rampage left Wyatt with one eye and unanswered questions, it enabled Opal to have visions.

As a snow storm moves in, Adam directs Vera to the motel. Also staying at the motel is pulp fiction writer Max Caul. Max knows the Pitch is much more than a simple cult - or a plot device for his novels. He has encountered Horus before. The importance of Opal's visions is clear to Max, who stays at their motel every year, but not to the Larkins.

Once all the characters and backstory are in place, Pitch Dark is a fast-paced supernatural thriller and a quick read. Although Vera, for me, is not a very compelling character, the Larkins and Max are, so once they are introduced the story is more intriguing. I did note, however, that none of the other characters are given the some level of care that Max receives. We are even told very specifically what kind of soda Max drinks and microwave popcorn he likes.

There also are some elements of the plot that feel familiar, for example: all sorts of evil converging on a small town, during a snow storm and a small band of people trying to keep a relic from an evil hoard. Furthermore there are parts of the story that are never fully explained or important details are missing. I'll have to admit that I didn't care for the ending at all. For me, the novel started out very strong and then ended weak, with an opening for a sequel.

Be sure to check out Sidor's website for A Chunk of Hell, a free prequel story to Pitch Dark. Sidor writes on his blog: "The story is a pulp weird tale written by one of the characters. It triggers all the events in the book."

All in all, Pitch Dark did hold my attention. I'll recommend it. http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/


Disclosure: I received this novel through the Goodreads First Reads program.
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Vera left her boyfriend and took a relic that he was supposed to hand over to the Pitch. Now the Pitch is hunting her down to get what the Pitch feels is theirs.

Creepy. The big confrontation of the book was a little confusing for me, but the ending itself was solid. I almost feel that this would have been better as a novella. Still, a good creepy read. ( )