Stay Away

De: Ike Hamill

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Stay Away - An amazingly original horror novel from Ike Hamill Every small town has secrets. Some secrets can kill.

He’s always been there, the old gentleman in the funeral suit, hanging around the big oak tree. Even before the cemetery was dug, the natives knew about him. He was just as much a part of the landscape as the rocks or the river. If you ever needed anything, especially if it was a matter of life and death, you could find him and make a trade.

He always trades fair. Everybody says so.

Eric is about to trade without even realizing it. He isn’t tricked. It’s only a mistake. “Caveat emptor,” some might say. Uncle Reynold would say, “Watch your butt, lest somebody kicks a new hole in it.”

Readers are saying: "Runs from downright creepy to terrifying." "…suffused with implacable horror, the kind that never stops giving…" "This is a must read for Ike Hamill fans and for lovers of original horror." Opportunity awaits. He’s always there, ready with a bargain. But maybe you should listen to the ghosts of those who have traded before, and Stay Away.

bit boring

I listened so I could encourage others not to support AI narratives. the voice was innocuous enough not to be too distracting but would show itself with the lack of personality. I choose books in a certain order, genre, narrator, blah blah. I could listen to RC Bray, Sean Runnette and Bronson Pinchot narrate a shopping list! those are the books I pay for.

This really deserves a real narrator!

The story was great. Crazy, weird, and the ending. Uh. That was sure an entire thing, that ending. The book, as a book, five stars, top notch spooky story. Felt like 80s horror, like old Stephen King vibes. It would be a GREAT mini series done retro style. It's good enough I put up with a robot reading it.

But I just wish it had been read by a human. It was not the worst robot voice, but it didn't do it any favors. It had mispronounced words, weird pauses, etc like robot voices do. I just wish I could have heard this read properly. The story deserved better.

audio

computer generated audio does not do justice to the story. Does not emphasize the intended excitement of certain words or phrases. monotone

Virtual voice ruined it!!

It would be nice if they did away with virtual voice. There was so much “lost in translation” and no genuine feel for the characters was made. There was nothing to make me root for them. Only real narrators can provide this! VV is just robotic reading. If you want to connect with the characters, skip this and all VV stories.

In addition, I believe there was too much fluff, esp the beginning. I almost gave up when about 1/2 thru it started getting interesting. Then it became overwhelming with a minute of detail and constant back and forth by characters.

And lastly, there were more than a few plot holes left - too many to list here. A good copy editor should have picked these things up.

What's with the AI voice?!?

I get it... let's use this new tech. However, just like turning actual book pages, some experiences can't be replaced by tech. Nevertheless, great story, I still have some questions but they'll hold. I agree with the other reviews, the virtual narration did nothing for the story and did not communicate any of the feelings or stress needed to cover the levity of what was happening.

Twists and turns

I absolutely never saw the ending happening. It keeps you listening and thinking about each character

Good good good

So good. I wish there was a part two. This bad boy is good enough to be a movie or a Netflix series. Man was the ending tough. I’m a bit confused about the latter part of the story conveyed in the letters and what happened to the cousin/friend. What was the second thing in the woods. The description was familiar but what I thought it was was still buried … I thought. Other than that, it was good.

The characters and how they all intertwined with each other, the good the bad the parents and the cop.

The entire book was great, wasn't sure if I was going to like the virtual voice 🤔 but it wasn't that bad, their was 3 or 4 twists, you know, the kind that makes you jump up and pace while thinking DAMN I DID NOT see that coming, through out the entire book we get to understand the thoughts and feelings of each character with what is happening in that time, It's fast paced and wonderfully written it's one of those books where you know in a month or so you're going to listen to it again and discover something new you overlooked the first time,I would definitely, absolutely recommend this book,

You never knew what to expect.

I like how it wasn’t another happy ending everybody ends up getting what they want type of book. It’s like real life. You have to suffer through tragedies and losses, and some people end up, never finding true happiness at the end having a happy ending.

Narration

When I first started listening to this book I was able to pick up on the lack of emotion.
It took my brain a minute to become accustomed.
The story was pretty good.
I loved the ending twist.
Worth the listen overall.