Library Journal - Audio
08/01/2022
Jones's debut begins with a one-night stand and ends with—the end. House sitter Beth and movie producer Mike seem very different, but both are carrying some serious emotional scars. Discovering that they are neighbors and Mike has alcohol, they share a night of passion as meteors fall around them. Arriving with the meteors, vicious (and creatively described) alien creatures quickly decimate the population. Soon, the couple is trapped by these monsters and must figure out a way to survive their sudden bump from the top of the food chain. While most apocalyptic tales are recounted through news reports and multiple eyewitness accounts, Jones wisely keeps the focus on Mike and Beth. The fact that they are far from the typical action movie tropes of capable heroes only adds to the tale's tension, and narrators John Pirhalla and Sophie Amoss skillfully let the protagonists' voices cycle through emotions like exhaustion, despair, and even hope. VERDICT Less a story about the apocalyptic end, this tale is character-driven survival horror that delves deep into the souls of some flawed heroes.—James Gardner
Publishers Weekly
02/14/2022
Jones debuts with an uneven, snark-filled romp through a postapocalyptic world. Financially unstable Beth makes another in a string of questionable decisions when she has a one-night stand with the neighbor at her current house sitting gig, washed-up film producer Mike, who’s still grieving the death of his wife. The world ends the night of their hookup, when an alien invasion disguised as a meteor shower leaves the planet devastated. Masses of people are missing and horrific creatures from an alternate dimension roam the earth. When Beth and Mike awaken to discover this new world order, they set out to survive together, but their escape from the extraterrestrial terrors stalls out on the Oregon coast. Between battling deadly aliens who seem to be just as confused as their prey and frantically searching for car keys, Beth and Mike learn to overcome enough of their insecurities to put up a fight. The pacing is slightly off, with a slow build-up and dragged-out suspense, but the unusual aliens and the climax’s edge-of-your-seat thrills make it worthwhile. The sarcastic, self-deprecating characters and quirky setup set this first contact tale apart, even if it’s something of a mixed bag. Agent: Amanda Jain, BookEnds Literary. (May)
From the Publisher
A BRAM STOKER AWARD FINALIST
“Grab your popcorn for this one....Mayhem, masses of menacing monsters, pulsing parasitic vines...this is one gnarly day at the beach.” —Jeremy Robert Johnson, author of The Loop
“A superb, fast-paced read that will compel readers to quickly devour the book.... Excellent writing, a consuming plot, and relatable characters make this an easy recommendation for library collections where sf/horror circulates well.” —Library Journal
“A wickedly fun, gut-shot punch of a story with whip-smart dialogue and breathtakingly tense action sequences. Don't miss it.” —Philip Fracassi, author of Boys in the Valley
“Weird, tense, and at times unexpectedly funny….If this is any indication of the kind of horror Jones will bring to the table, I hope he gives us some more mayhem very soon.” —Locus
“A relentless, nerve-jangling nightmare ride through an apocalyptic maritime hellscape. Brimming with relatable characters and shocking left turns, this is gasp-for-your-breath, peek-through-your-fingers horror, and I loved every page of it. Highly recommended!” —Jonathan Janz, author of The Siren and the Specter
“Black Tide is the ultimate walk-of-shame straight to the end of the world, equal parts cataclysmic thrill ride and acerbic character study.” —Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Whisper Down the Lane
“Jones’ debut novel unfolds like a movie, a terrifying nightmare come to life, an intense, realistic portrayal of an alien invasion. The action-oriented, blisteringly fast-paced plot is authentically rendered; but beware, not all make it out alive.....” —Booklist
“Black Tide is a droptop-down, pedal-to-the-floor joyride through hell. It'll blast your hair back...A horror beach read like no other.” —Nat Cassidy, author of Mary
“Black Tide is cinematic, fast-paced, pedal-to-the-metal storytelling: I found myself gasping!” —Ally Wilkes, author of All the White Spaces
“Jones’ debut novel reads like a summer blockbuster stuffed with adrenaline-pumping action scenes and moments of heart-stopping suspense.” —BookPage
“[A] snark-filled romp through a postapocalyptic world. The sarcastic, self-deprecating characters and quirky setup set this first contact tale apart.” —Publishers Weekly
“The characters are so perfectly crafted, which makes their nightmare scenario even more frightening and seemingly possible. I held my breath for them every time I turned the page.” —S.A. Barnes, author of Dead Silence
Library Journal
04/01/2022
Beth is dog-sitting at a remote Oregon beach house when she makes a connection with a neighbor. Mike and Beth wake up after a champagne-fueled one-night stand to find that a major astronomical event has brought more than just meteorites and a light show—it's an alien invasion. Then a lost car key strands them, along with Jake the dog. There are inhuman screams coming from the dunes, and the tide is quickly rising. Mike and Beth's descent into terror and examination of the mental and physical limits between them make for a superb, fast-paced read that will compel readers to quickly devour the book. The cover is stark and does a good job of projecting the loneliness of the main characters. VERDICT Excellent writing, a consuming plot, and relatable characters make this an easy recommendation for library collection where sf/horror circulates well.—Jeremiah Paddock
