14 by Peter Clines_Review

Review of 14 by Peter Clines

5 stars

“14” is an exceptionally plotted horror novel, in the Classic sense, but it is also an exploding and exploratory sci fantasy (fantastical with elements of hard science). I found it totally riveting, a literal “I can’t put this down” reading session. Author Peter Clines demonstrates a strong background in the classics of horror, as well as science fiction, steampunk, and alternate-world fantasy. I hesitate to say too much: the novel really deserves to be read, pondered, and savoured.

Nate is a minimum-wage, bored, data entry employee in Los Angeles. Unexpectedly, he finds himself in need of a residence, as one of his roommates is marrying and the other one is moving back to San Francisco, and his salary won’t cover their house. An acquaintance mentions an apartment building with a vacancy where the rents are incredibly low (focus is on the adjective “incredibly”) so Nate immediately checks into it, discovering the rent really is that low, and moves in. It’s not long before he, in conjunction with some of the other tenants, begins to investigate, and to discover the reason for the low rent, not to mention padlocked apartments, doors without doorknobs, a sub-basement, and an elevator that has not run since the building’s inception, in the last years of the 19^th century.

Empathetic characters and a truly expansive imaginative field of play made “14” a favourite of mine, and a re-read. Do yourself a favour, and don’t miss out.

I reviewed a complimentary e-book copy in return for my fair and impartial review.