Something Terrifying in Ohio.

I never know where the next book I’ll read will come from.  My bookshelves are overflowing and I like to think that I’ll eventually make my way through them all.  At any moment there are about 5 books I tell myself I’ll start next.  And when I finish the next one, I pick up something else instead.  Read and repeat.

Starting a new book is always exciting.  It’s like moving to a new town, meeting new people, and watching some other life unfold in front of you, all from the comfort of your bed, couch, or reading chair.  The novel Cedar Mills is that kind of book.  While the idea of visiting a small town in Ohio doesn’t seem that exciting, Cedar Mills is a town with a deadly secret. 

I quickly got lost in this debut novel by Dylan James.  The fortuitous opportunity to read the book came from too much scrolling on Reddit.  Dylan posted on the subreddit r/horrorlit asking if anyone might be willing to review his book.  I contacted him and said I have a blog and would be interested in reviewing the book.  But he would have to send me a PDF as I’m running out of room on my bookshelves. 

The cover art is black and white except for a glowing set of yellow eyes.  At a first glance, I thought it would be a werewolf novel.  My mind must have been doing some word association with cedar, woods, wolves, werewolves.  The book title is centered with the eyes above it and below is the silhouette of a person standing in the woods against a bright light. It’s an ominous and intriguing cover.  The only spoiler I offer is that it isn’t a werewolf. 

The novel starts off in the late 90’s as some bikers decide how to deal with a traitor in their midst.  After a bloody encounter it becomes apparent there is something not normal in the woods of Cedar Mills.  Flash forward to the present day.  Cedar Mills is a small town in the Midwest. Five high school friends who run the school newspaper juggle their last year of school, newspaper stories, relationships, and the ever-growing realization that something ominous is going on in town.  At the center of their group is Jake and Alexis who are equally too shy to admit their feelings for the other.  Past trauma keeps Jake from letting anyone get too close.    

The story introduces many characters I love seeing in a scifi horror story.  There is the former mayor who seems crooked and is trying to keep the kids out of the woods, and a sheriff, who always tries to do right by the people she swore to protect. When higher authorities try to cover up a murder, she recruits former cop Tom Dalton to get to the bottom of it.  Tom has a checkered past and works as a private investigator now.  As the body count grows and the people start to wonder what kind of monster is living in the woods, Tom works with Jake, Alexis and their friends to expose the truth.   

Right away, I was entertained by Cedar Mills.  Having grown up in a small town in the Midwest, I recognized the setting, motorcycle clubs and all.  Cedar Mills is an entertaining page turner.  It has good pacing and character development.  The chapters are short but keep the story moving quickly.  Dylan doesn’t let up on the action or suspense.  The twists and turns make it hard to know just where he’s leading you.  It is quite the thrill ride that I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of authors such as John Saul, R.L. Stine, or the show Stranger Things.

After finishing the book, I emailed Dylan to let him know I enjoyed reading it.  He shared that he is already working on another novel.  This next one is to be a full-on horror story.  And if you are interested in Civil War nonfiction, Dylan has another book available on his website, Brothers: A True Civil War Story.      

Cedar Mills is out now from Savage Realms Press.  You can find it on at Dylanjamesauthor.com