Bloody Bloody Apple

By: Howard Odentz

Narrated by: Jon Oak

Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

Apple, Massachusetts, is rotten to the core.

Every fall, when the orchards ripen and the leaves begin to die, there are murders. We know it, and we accept it. It's the price we pay for living in Apple. Families mourn, but no one is ever caught. Now, there's a body in the woods, and the cycle is starting again. People bruise easily in Apple.

Finding a murdered and mutilated girl plunges Jackson Gill into the middle of a decades-old horror. For Jackson, the newest murders become personal. His mentally ill sister knows far more about the murders than anyone restrained in a basement room should know.

When one by one, her sick, cryptic predictions prove true, Jackson will have to believe the unthinkable and stop what no one has been able to stop in 60 years.

He has no choice. He lives in bloody, bloody Apple.

©2014 Howard Odentz (P)2019 Bell Bridge Books

Apple, MA Is Rotten To The Core

Bloody Bloody Apple is a really great story that continued to surprise me all the way to the end. I really enjoyed every aspect of it. This was one of those books that although I needed a resolution, I didn’t want it to end. I really enjoyed having spent the time I did with each of the characters. If you like small town 80’s horror feel that isn’t overly gory this is a perfect book to use a credit on.

I really enjoyed the first person aspect of the story. It really gets you intimate with Jackson and makes you much more sympathetic to his and his friend’s plight. The coming of age feel this book had, although not one I would truly call coming of age, coupled with the small town feel really made for a great setting. Outside of the teens having cellphones I would have said that this story took place decades ago. The simplicity of everything heightens this feeling and really set the somber tone of the overall story.

The characters are great and are really fleshed out. Every character has an interesting story being told and you really get a sense of how screwed up the community is living in Apple. Everyone has problems and in the small community everyone knows each other’s problems. The turmoil of living there coupled with the seasonal murders really seems to stifle the energy the town has and casts a gray cloud over the whole story. My favorite character hands down was Not Becky. Her story is the most tragic and while it provides a horror element, it provides the most emotional aspect as well. Without her piece of this I think this would have been a completely different story and probably not one that would have worked as well.

I really enjoyed Howard Odentz’s writing style. The story flowed quite smoothly and was suspenseful enough that I didn’t want to stop listening. Woke up in the middle of the night and listened to a few chapters. He has a good way with words and all his descriptions really put you there on scene as things were unfolding. The potential demonic possession of Becky sprinkled throughout ratcheted this mystery thriller up and provided a nice supernatural horror. That wasn’t expected and provided some nice twists that elevated the overall story. I can’t wait to see what Odentz does next.

Jon Oak did a great job. His tone was perfect for the overall feel of the story and he has that familiar sounding voice that can just put you in that sweet spot to where you don’t want to stop listening. His cadence and inflection reminded me of Jean Shepherd’s narration of “A Christmas Story”.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great story

The story and setting was like a throwback to classic horror paperbacks of the 70s and 80s
Jon does a great job narrating Each character young and old
A good dark mystery with a nice twist at the end
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily Left this review

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

Creepy, Scary and Will Hook You!

I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.

Here, Jackson lives in Apple, where every fall several murders occur. Everyone who lives in Apple accepts it as a natural part of their existence. Jackson takes care of his mentally ill mother and sister and his elderly grandfather. His father has somewhat checked out of the family and relies on Jackson to keep the family together. This fall, Jackson and his friends find the first body and Jackson begins to suspect that maybe his family is involved in the deaths...

This books reminds me of Stephen King for the underlying creep factor in the story. It is a story you cannot put down and an ending you cannot forget. The characters are each so well developed, each with their interesting back story. It is very well written with great pacing and suspense. Highly recommend.

The narrator was fantastic. He developed a great intensity as the story evolved that brought the story to life. And his Not Becky character sends chills down your spine!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

An Intriguing Story

In Apple, where everyone knows your name and the small-town friends you have are for life is a great place most of the time, except in the fall. In the fall, during harvest time when death lingers through November dead bodies turn up in the most gruesome ways. But that’s ok, it’s Apple.

Jackson Gill is a teenager now and the killer is killing again; his mentally ill sister knows who the killer is and what is going to happen. Jackson has to stop the killer before someone he loves dies.

Howard Odentz, author, builds an intriguing story that relates to his listeners. We were all teenagers at one time who tended to poke around where we shouldn’t. The dialog between characters is natural and flows well. The character development is solid with just enough doubt around certain characters to make them more mysterious.

The narrator, John Oak, provides an entertaining listen where he further moves the story through his talented reading. Between Oak and Odentz, I was thoroughly enmeshed in the tale. Oak was smooth and professional in reading but let just enough creep slide in for some characters. There were no issues with the quality of the audio production. It was crisp and clear.

Bloody Bloody Apple

Absolutely loved it!Old fashioned horror/thriller at it's best! Jon Oak was a terrific narrator. I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.

Loved it

Never a dull moment. There's action from beginning to a surprise ending.

Really enjoyed listening to the narration.

I was provided a copy of this audible free of cost. I'm thrilled to be able to leave my review

Great story

I have to admit, I am pretty good at guessing an ending, but this one totally got me. The story kept me listening with great characters. Then the ending. BAM.
Excellent.

Surprised All the Way Through

I am not the biggest fan of horrour, but I really enjoyed this book. So much so, I have already recommended it to a few friends.

The synopsis is what had me hooked. I thought it was really creepy, but I never felt super scared. I quite liked that. The characters and town are great. The idea of the story of everything being apple related was super well done. I wasn't rolling my eyes about it at any point.

Jon Oak does a great job with the narration.

I kept thinking I had it figured out and then I didn't. I loved that. The last line of the book is perfection! I want to read what comes next!

I received this audio book at my request and have voluntarily left an honest review.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Wow dark and creepy

Bloody Bloody Apple. Dark and creepy just as good horror books should be. Well written with great characters, tense and gripping right to the final paragraph.. Totally absorbing.
Just a great book for horror fans or mystery fans (like me).
The narration by Jon Oak is great, clear & concise he delivers the atmosphere.
I was given a free copy of this audiobook at my own request, and voluntarily leave this review.

Interesting

This one took a bit to get into. Once it got rolling, the pieces started dropping together very nicely. Both story and narrator give a believable glimpse into the teenage years of a bit in Massachusetts. The fact that people die every year is just kind of accepted. While everyone fears for their lives, they realize life must go on. Once one teenage boy starts figuring out the what and the who, he uncovers secrets no teenager ever should. Jon Oak did a great job as the reader for this one. His style is a touch slow paced for me, but in no way detracted from the story. I wouldn't mind seeing a continuation of the story. That ending kind of left me with even more questions. I received a copy of this book at my request in exchange for an unbiased review.

Doughnuts, cops and death.

Or, "You're such a good boy, Jackson."

This is one of those occasional times when it would be helpful to have that extra bonus star rating for excellence, where it all comes together perfectly: story and narration et al.
The story is creepy from the very beginning: three friends find the murdered body of a girl from their school as they walk together through the woods..It's Autumn, in Apple, and every year there are murders in the autumn, in Apple. And have been for as long as anyone can remember.

Apple is the sort of small town everyone want to leave, little work, lots of drugs and poor areas, nearest biggish town an hour's drive away. Not many do leave, though. Two of the friends, Jackson and Annie, have planned to escape when they can, at least in their heads. The third youth is destined to follow on from his father as a local cop. Newie doesn't want to be a cop. And now it is Autumn again. No relief from the tensions at home, either: all three have dysfunctional families, especially Jackson.

Written in the first person from Jackson's point of view, the reader experiences all that he does, getting to know his friends, his hopes, fears, sadness and frustration as well as the town of Apple and his family. And lives through the murder days with him as he tries to make sense of what, and why, it's all happening again, just like every year. A good psychological horror thriller with clues along the way for those who can see them.
Narration by John Oak is superb, catching the nuances and emotion of the text without over emphasising anything but enhancing the mystery, the strangeness, the fear. An excellent performance throughout. The murder mystery might not be the most original but put into it's context and with Mr.Oak narrating, it becomes almost sublime.

My thanks to the rights holder of Bloody, Bloody Apple, who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. If you like your books creepy then this is definitely for you. Highly recommended.