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4.0 out of 5 stars a fun, spooky follow up story to book one but falls a bit short
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2019
3.5! Rounded up for AmazonIf you enjoy keeping up with all the new releases in horror, then no doubt you heard about 2018’s The Nightmare Room by Chris Sorensen. Book #1 of the Messy Man series received a warm welcome from the horror industry with glowing reviews across the board from multiple sources, including me! I loved The Nightmare Room. having this to say about it:…a really well written haunted house story that’s easy to follow and scary enough to leave the light on or read during the day. I loved it! This is a must have for your horror collection.For me, part of the excitement of picking up The Nightmare Room was knowing that it was the first book in a series. I love the idea of a good horror series that spans over several books. It’s fun to anticipate a return to a storyline I enjoyed or revisit characters to see what will happen to them next.Book #2, The Hungry Ones, continues the Messy Man series. This is where I’m going to make the recommendation that readers must read The Nightmare Room first, as I don’t believe that The Hungry Ones makes for a standalone novel. There is so much crossover from the first book with little to no flashbacks or anything to help refresh a reader’s memory. I made the mistake of just jumping right in having not read Book #1 in about a year. Also, this book spoils some pretty big reveals from The Nightmare Room.The first part of the book introduces some new characters and starts telling the story of a woman named Jessie Voss.Jessie, with the help of a lively and hilarious friend named Steph, invests some money in an abandoned roadside motel that has seen better days and was the location of a brutal act of violence. I have a real affinity for “fixer-upper” stories. I love reading stories about people renovating a neglected farmhouse or giving a new lease on life to a dilapidated business, so this part of the book, where Jessie is painting, cleaning and restoring this old motel, was a huge hook for me. There are several teasers of something residing at the motel, maybe even suggesting that the motel is haunted, but Jessie is the kind of girl that isn’t easily rattled.A few characters show up while Jessie is preparing for her grand opening. I didn’t immediately catch on that some of the characters who ask to rent a room from Jessie are from the first book—this made for some missed opportunities for me early on and later, when I finally figured it out, I actually had to go back to re-read from when they first make an appearance and then catch up again to where I left off. So again, I will highlight the importance of reading The Nightmare Room.Towards the middle of the book, I found that I was questioning myself quite often. Wondering if I was forgetting some important details from Book #1 because, as I continued reading, I couldn’t shake the feeling like I was missing something. I was a little confused and disoriented. There were these isolated chapters written in italics that interrupted the flow of the present day drama unfolding and each time I read through one of those chapters, I would feel more confused.There was also a storyline about these strange phone calls that would come in on a landline and the characters would have these odd, choppy conversations with the person on the other line. Every time this would happen I felt like maybe this was a clue or something from the original plotline that I missed. But apart from some clunkiness due to my forgetfulness, I had an awesome time at the Crossroads Motel. Chris Sorensen’s wheelhouse is writing authentic, realistic encounters with the paranormal. The Hungry Ones is full of unsettling scenes with people in real life coming face-to-face with unexplained phenomena. The careful, descriptive details are what make these scenes so chilling and engaging.I absolutely love Sorensen’s narrative style. So even though I found book two to be difficult to navigate and I had trouble finding my footing, all of the things that make Sorensen a great writer kept me turning the pages until the end. I’m excited to read book three, The Messy Man, which was advertised in the back of the book. More Whisper and more Mr. Tell. Yes!
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John E. Brady
5.0 out of 5 stars I want more. I really like this book and this series.
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2019
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First, here is something that I think is very cool (and I take my hat off to the author) – you could actually reverse the order of the first book with this sequel and the series would still work. It wouldn't make a difference. How cool is that? I don’t want to give it away but I’ve never come across a series where you could actually switch the order of the books and the story would still work… That blows my mind! Well done Mr. Sorenson. Anyway, to the review. I’m not going to give you a recap, there are plenty here for you to peruse, but I will mention a few things that I thought made this story different and exciting. (I don’t want to give too much away because the surprise is most of the fun.) Let’s just say that this book checks off all of the usual boxes when it comes to a good horror tale. It has a great build, and I like the author's utilitarian style. There are moment's where, in the hand's of a lesser author, it may have gotten too campy or unbelievable but I thought he came right up to the line but never crossed it. It has jolts and surprises all in the right places, laughs to relieve the tension at precisely the places you need them. And as for originality? There is one part... I don't want to give it away, but.... there is one part where a character uses a coffee grinder and a pipe to get high in a way that I don’t think anyone has every dreamed of before – ever. I don’t know if the author is psychopath, or a genius, or maybe he's just a psychopathic genius. Either way it's kinda brilliant and REALLY creepy. (And I mean that as a compliment.) I can’t wait for the next book in the Messy Man Series.
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Mark E. Willhardt
5.0 out of 5 stars Multiple Narratives = Multiple Thrills
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2019
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Sorensen continues to hone his horror skills in this, the second volume of the Messy Man series. Like the first book, the Hungry Ones is a page-turner driven not only by the keen eye for character but also by the propulsive sense of plotting where timelines are interwoven around the central presence of characters who bridge both moments. The fact that sometimes those characters are ghosts only heightens the wonder, and fun. What really drives The Hungry Ones, though, is Sorensen's ability to surprise his readers, continually. There were any number of moments where his inventiveness twisted the story's direction so much that I kept thinking "cool" even as I was horrified by the action itself. It's this combination of surprise and thrilling horror that makes The Hungry Ones such a good read and Sorensen such a compelling writer. I can't wait to see what the end of the trilogy brings!
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leeann
5.0 out of 5 stars Dark, Intense, and keeps you coming back for more
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2019
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great 2nd book in the series. I have been waiting for this book to come out of some time. The only downside is that I do read a lot and I could not remember exactly how the 1st one ended, only that I liked it and this book did not initially draw back to the original characters in a way that ever made my mind fully remember what happened in the last one, but that is my fault really. And when you get to the end of this one the fact I could not remember totally kind of freaks me out due to the twist and turns this books takes your mind! Very original story line and plot. The characters are great (end the evil ones!) I could see this being a TV show. Will be waiting for the next book.
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Kevin Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars A Sequel That Left Me Hungry For More!
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2019
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I was excited when I learned about this second book in The Messy Man series. I really enjoyed book 1 - The Nightmare Room - and the genuine sense of creep and mystery it layered on so masterfully. Not knowing what to expect from "The Hungry Ones," I can now say that this sequel wildly exceeded expectations. Playing with a larger cast of old and new characters, I loved how the story flipped between multiple points of view and alternate realities. To paraphrase somewhat reluctant heroine Ellen Marx, things happen AND they don't in these shifting realities. I won't go too deeply into specific plot details because to do so would be to ruin some of the delightful twists and turns the story takes. Suffice it to say, I am really enjoying this series and am looking forward to Book 3.
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H
4.0 out of 5 stars Oh
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2021
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I enjoyed it! Some parts were kinda meh, but overall great! The ending was not something I saw coming. I don’t like Ellen too much, so I am not too excited for the next book.
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Karrie Bloomer
3.0 out of 5 stars I was just a tad bit lost...
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2019
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I read the first book in the series and enjoyed it quite a lot. This second one was good in several ways, good atmosphere and characters to name a few. Yet I found myself lost a great deal. It seemed "messy" to me whereas the first was put together well and very understandable. Bits and pieces seemed tossed together like a salad. Which left me trying to put it together myself, not always successfully. I left the end somewhat lost. I will certainly read any more novels from the series in spite of the confusion this one left. I have read several of Coleman's stories and they are usually quite good. Therefore, I feel like this is just a one-off. And the next will be a winner like the previous ones.
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars The hungry Ones.........
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2020
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Started out "normal" but go a little weird (but in a good way) about half way into the story. Jesse buys a hotel that was a scene of multi murders. I guess she didn't expect anything Strange to happen. Well she was wrong! It includes a smart little boy, a psychic and a cow. Go figure.
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James K. Cleveland
5.0 out of 5 stars Scary and original with some humor too
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2019
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I'm not usually a fan of horror, but Chris Sorensen's wonderful novels are exceptions. I really enjoyed his previous book, the Nightmare Room, and its sequel doesn't disappoint! We re-visit some of the characters from the first book, but see them in new light. It probably helps if you've read the first novel, but this one stands on its own with great new characters and plot twists. I kept turning the pages - and just when the thrill becomes almost too much, there's some wonderful comic relief. Really fun!
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Top reviews from other countries

King
3.0 out of 5 stars Great creatures introduced in this one, though a little confusing with the time/reality jumping
Reviewed in Canada on July 12, 2023
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THE GOOD:
This series is told in an interesting way, in that instead of the traditional installment one after the other to tell an overarching story, this trilogy deals with changing realities, characters and plot that are integral to each other but also their own events. This is a very intriguing way of telling a larger story, and drew me in.

THE GREAT:
The creature design. The titular hungry ones are a group of spirits/demons with very cool attributes, in which Sorensen does a bang up job of getting across. Their leader, Sister, in particular, is very intimidating and provided a lot of tension in its cat-and-mouse game against Michael.

THE NOT SO GREAT:
In addition to reality hopping, this book does some time travel sort of the way the first book did. Combined with the changing realities, I found it a little confusing. But that could entirely be my own problem.
The continued symbiosis with Peter and Whisper also gets confusing at times, description wise. There were a couple of instances where the ongoing changes melded together too much and left me unable to really picture was was going on.

Still, a very intriguing installment in this trilogy, and I'll read the next one for sure.
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T. Dar
4.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly decent ghost story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2021
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After reading and enjoying The Nightmare Room, I was looking forward to reading The Hungry Ones, and it didn't disappoint!

Sorensen's writing style is slick, and the setting in this story is an instant horror classic: a rundown motel which was the site of a grisly murder spree.

Jessie and her friend Steph take charge of the motel, do it up and open it to new customers. Little do they know that the living aren't the only guests...

Throw in a child recovering from cancer, a plastic cow which is more than meets the eye, a couple of shocking twists and a blast from the past (from The Nightmare Room), and you have a thoroughly decent ghost story.

I found the climax a little confusing and overdone, hence the 4 stars rather than 5, but nonetheless this is a cracking horror story and a worthy follow-up to The Nightmare Room.
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Regalcanary
4.0 out of 5 stars Creepy
Reviewed in Canada on July 5, 2022
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Book two finds the Larsons once more entering Maple City with their Ryder truck carrying their possessions to a new home. But this is an alternative path for the family, one which sees son Michael Larson in remission from cancer and growing stronger. Michael is special in many ways, including his ability to detect paranormal things. This time the center of action is a newly-renovated motel which was the site of multiple shotgun murders one evening two years prior. The malevolent forces which drove that killer are the same forces now threatening Michael and others at the motel once again. And boy, they are terrifying, especially the one named Sister.
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R.H.Hale
5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining ghost story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2019
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In this sequel, two terrifying supernatural phenomena end up clashing, with wild consequences dragging its characters along for the ride.

I loved the main protagonist, Jessie, the new owner of the motel. And to be honest I would have been enraptured enough by this story even if Sorensen hadn’t bothered to include the “hungry ones” - which are many times more horrific than the spirits already inhabiting the restored premises.

The book has a marvellous beginning (also revisited in several flashbacks throughout the novel), setting a seriously disturbing scene of ruthless slaughter which immediately engages the reader and plunges them deep into the story before they know it.
We meet some previous characters from Book 1, but I liked that new ones took centre stage here as well.

Not sure I want to know what this says about me, but my only real - admittedly trivial - problem with this novel is I felt SO sorry for a relatively minor character: the spirit of the receptionist; who, well, effectively, just wanted a cuddle! Curling up to her in bed and everything, unpleasantly pungent as his unfortunate ectoplasmic residue (no innuendo intended) turned out. I wouldn’t have complained if his character played a larger role in the story, but this sequel has plenty to grip its reader with besides.
Looking forward to more of Sorensen’s work.
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