Alex

By: Adam J. Nicolai

Narrated by: Marc Vietor

Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

Alex was Ian's five-year-old son: brilliant, earnest, and compassionate. He is dead now, but Ian can't let him go. When his wife urges him to move on, he drives her away. His performance at work collapses; his friends leave him. Six months later, alone in an empty house, Ian starts to see his son again.

Every vision is a repeat of something the boy said or did in life: aching memories replaying themselves for Ian's eyes alone. Are these images of Alex real? Has Ian's son found a way back, to forgive or condemn his father? Or has Ian's sorrow metastasized into psychosis?

With a masterful hand, best-selling Kindle Horror author Adam J. Nicolai paints a picture of grief, madness, and the furious strength of a father's love for his son.

©2011 Adam J. Nicolai (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Paranormal experience of Psychotic break

For some reason when I first saw this audiobook I thought it was something much different that what the publishers summary actually says it is, sometimes I just need to slow down and really read stuff, think about it, and read it again. If you didn’t know that is one of the main reasons that I love audiobooks, because I don’t have to read them ;) . I do not normally listen to horror books but I do have a few that are in my queue to listen to in the near future. Some would wonder why not so much horror, aren’t zombie books horror and the answer is that few really fit into the horror genre at all. The main reason that I don’t listen to much horror is, they creep me out, honestly.

While Alex was a bit on the slow side, an unexpected twist and another turn and dramatic conclusion made this a very satisfying listen that I would instantly recommend to fans of this genre. For the first hour or two I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish listening to Alex. Reason being is that Ian lost is kid Alex to a one of the worst kind of monsters there are, child abductors, while the man was caught Alex did not make it and Ian blamed himself for it all and the audiobook just seemed to go on and on forever. Soon Ian starts to see Alex everywhere and replaying scenes out of his life, this slowly but surely start to break down Ian’s psyche and everyone around him is starting to notice. Nicolai is a great writer, I say this because he was able to make me truly believe that Ian was going completely nuts and having me at the edge of my seat waiting for the poop to hit the fan. Nicolai created in me and maintained a huge amount of anxiety and uncertainty throughout the audiobook, I was unsure whether Ian was haunted by his son or slowly going crazy until the last hour or so. I do not for one second want to know why I picked this audiobook because it is choices like this that make me keep coming back for more.

This was my first experience with Marc Vietor and I was not disappointed at all. At first I though to myself “How can a guy with a voice like this get an audiobook narrating gig”, but soon realized why. It takes more than a polished voice to make audiobook narration successful. One needs to be able to become more than a narrator and become everyone and everything within the story and Vietor was able to accomplish this by making Ian such a great character.

Edge of my bed, gripping story.

What made the experience of listening to Alex the most enjoyable?

I could feel in my own bones the father's fear, desperation, insanity, and annoyance at was was happening. Ian is a very personable character, and I felt the author did an excellent job putting Ian's mind into your own. What this man goes through is a nightmare, and I felt every bit of it. I could not stop listening because I wanted to know WHY!!!!??? The filler in between hauntings is even good. It's definitely a satisfying piece of horror. I rarely give 5 star ratings. I save those for books the really pull me around by my hair. This one did.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Oh, Ian by far. I really felt for him. I was desperate for him, sad for him, broken for him. I wanted to see him...get out of that mess.

What about Marc Vietor’s performance did you like?

You know, the best narrators don't really make you think of their performance, they just make you feel the story and pull you in. He was perfect.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. But I love listening to horror stories right before bed. I save that for "my time". I stayed up way too late so many nights with this book though, lol.

Any additional comments?

Keep writing, I'll keep listening!!! I'll be looking for more of your books Mr. Nicolai.

Don't waste your time

You’d think I would learn, but I haven’t. Just because a book has good ratings means nothing. The latest victim is this book: Alex. There is nothing about this book that should rate a 5-star or 4.5-star rating.

After reading several books with good ratings and not liking them, I’ve come to a conclusion. I have a different rating system for what makes a good book/story. For me there has to be a good story, told well. This was not one of those kind of stories.

Not for the faint of heart!

Fantastic story that really explores the horror and overwhelming grief of losing a child. I will say, this book is NOT for everyone: the level of detail regarding an absolutely horrendous situation will turn your stomach; but at it's heart this is a story of finding closure and peace and it is absolutely worth a listen.

good book

Has a surprise ending and no hints were given during the book. It is awesome

Slow

The story begins slowly and rambles on for several empty chapters. And then when you wake up the book slows down even more, but if you can hang in there until you get to the final 5 or 6 chapters there is some moderately slow action. It took me two months to finish this book.

Alex...

For me it was akin to watching the movie, “The Sixth Sense”... way more sad than scary

Loved it!

Get this audiobook and enjoy! Starts a little slow but definitely builds with unexpected twists and turns. Going to search for the next title from this author right now.

Don't waste your money.

Couldn't get through the first hour. The work scenes were especially awful. I will try to return this title. No luck trying to return this. What a waste of money!!!!!

Not really Horror

This isn't really a horror story but really a story about grief. Slow start but picks up pretty well.

Wow. The best book I've listened to in years

I don't often write reviews on audible, but.. WOW. This is the best book I've read in years, I listen to so many books and I honestly felt like I've read all the good ones, and then found this. It's a very well written, easily followed, very well narrated book. Its incredibly sad at the beginning and I wasn't sure where the book was going, or what direction the main character Ian would follow., and then everything clicks and comes together. Although it may seem like it to begin with, its not a ghost story, its not a horror or a haunting or mental health book, its just something better. It will freak you out, make you cry, make you smile and make you NOT want to turn it off. I was especially happy to know that it wasn't a silly ending like the build up of so many good books, and all the questions I had were answered. "I'll just call for you, Daddy" and "I don't like your black hat, the eyes scare me" gave me goosebumps when you realised why. Read it, keep going even if it gets heavy, I promise you won't waste your credit!

Excellent narration too, I'll look for more books from the same author and same narrator. I can't wait for the authors next book!

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Harrowing but unputdownable.

saying I loved it sounds wrong taking in the subject but I did. Couldn't wait to finish it, didn't want it to end.

Brave subject matter, pain full and poignant

Extremely emotive story, hard to listen to at times, gut wrenchingly awful and harrowing , but at the same time intensely beautiful and joyful
Made me smile, it scared and sickened me and I was a sobbing wreck at the end.
A very brave choice regarding the subject of child abduction and death, this has no fairy tale ending with the hero saving the day, bad men really do these unspeakable acts

Good

This book was good and interesting in parts. It was quite sad I personally wouldn't say this was horror, more paranormal. The narrator did a very good job😉😂😀