Review of Whiteout

[Nzube Chizoba Okeke]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Whiteout" by Jay W Gould.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Whiteout by Jay W. Gould centered around a small mountain village called Owl Valley. First revealed were Miles, his old buddy, Smitty, and Miles' nineteen-year-old son, Logan. The three were on a hike up the mountain headed to Juice Harp Mine in search of Georgie, Miles and Smitty's friend. Georgie had gone to the mine in search of nuggets he claimed to have discovered. Logan remembered his grandfather's scary stories about the mine and was wary of going there, but his father assured him it was okay. However, when the trio hadn't returned to town by almost sundown, another village member, Sam Steadman, was asked to search for them. However, Sam discovered that their beloved village had been transformed into a dark ghostland. Unknown to Sam, a terrifying predator had been unleashed on the town, and they were the prey.

The story starts on a note of trepidation, which lays the backdrop for the horror that will later be unleashed. You know those movies where you scream at the actors not to enter somewhere, but they still do? This story feels like one of them. The book has a simple plot that isn't bombarded with complex plot twists. The fear factor is there, as Gould uses sound stimulation and visual descriptions to add to the sinister feel of the book.

The book had suspense and an intriguing thrill. The suspense came from not knowing what was going on, and the intrigue came from curiosity about what would happen next. Both feelings made an impactful combination. The book was descriptive and allowed me to conjure the scenes in my mind — a necessity that delivered a better experience. Seeing how the author transformed ordinary individuals into brave and daring characters was excellent. Despite the frightening situations, their humanity and kindness were still displayed.

The book seemed to have started on a fast-paced note. But down the line, it began to drag a bit. I had mixed feelings about this aspect. On the one hand, it drew out the suspense. On the other hand, it could have the opposite effect and lose readers' attention. Whichever way it would be received would be dependent on the reader. The book delivered on the fear factor. However, I would say that the 'fear figure' itself was a little disappointing and could have been done with a little more creativity that could at least match the reader's lofty imagination. Though suspenseful, there was a bit of predictability within the story that was obvious by the end of the book. This might leave readers insufficiently surprised, especially more seasoned readers of horror stories.

The end of the book had a melancholy that highlighted its emotional part most tragically. Overall, the book was a simple story that would make a thrilling read. Whiteout was also well edited, as I only found two errors. I'd recommend it to readers of horror thrillers. Regardless of the concerns I raised, I’d still rate Whiteout four out of four stars.

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Whiteout
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[Shillah Andeso]

I like a book that keeps me on my toes and this is the right one. I would love to feel the emotional tension and experience adventure along with the characters. The fact that the book drags a bit as the story moves along doesn't deter me. I'd love to experience this amazingly written piece of work. Thanks for the review and recommendation.

[Amy Luman]

This story reminds me of “The Mist” by Stephen King. It’s also the tale of a small town taken over by malevolent creatures. I am very intrigued by this novel and am excited to see how it turns out. Owl Valley reminds me of my hometown.

[Eze Michael]

Predators can be very intimidating. I'd love to read this book so as to know if Miles survived the predator attack. The author's perspective is quite unique. Thanks for your honest review.

[Yasmine Zaki Muhieddine]

The book is a good thriller; I wonder how many will survive and if they will manage to overcome the predator. I wish there was a more complex storyline. I will pass on this one.

[Bri Denzel]

I'd love to know if sam and his people survived the predator unleashed on them. Great review.

[NetMassimo]

A village hosting a game hunt where humans are the game seems quite a thriller and makes me curious about what's behind that hunt. Thank you for your great review!