The Summer Job

A Satanic Thriller

By: Adam Cesare

Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski

Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Insane innkeepers, cannibalistic cooks: The staff of the Brant Hotel would like to meet you!

Massive nights, picturesque days: There is nothing Claire doesn't love about her summer job in Mission, Massachusetts. Claire is just trying to keep her head down and start a new life after burning out in the city, but those kids out in the woods seem like they throw awesome ragers....

It's only once she's in too deep that Claire discovers the real tourist trade that keeps the town afloat. It's then that her soul-searching in Mission becomes a fight for her life.

Crazed parties, dark rituals, and unexpected betrayals abound in this modern folk horror novel from the author of The Con Season and Video Night.

©2018 Adam Cesare (P)2018 Adam Cesare

Critic reviews

"The prologue of The Summer Job is one the best and scariest openings to a horror novel I've ever read.... The rest of the novel is equally great." (LitReactor)

"Cesare's latest is a knockout.... There's a potent retro vibe running through Cesare's work, in general - he's the closest thing literary horror has to its own Jim Mickle or Ti West." (Complex)

"The textbook definition of a nail-biter. The Summer Job is a kissing cousin to inbred classics from masters like Ketchum and Kilborn. Cesare's best novel yet." (Bloody Disgusting)

Good story overall, Had some holes and loose ends

The story was good, but I had a hard time with some of the loose ends that weren't tied up at the end. Why was a character suddenly a queen? Who were the good guys v bad guys? Why was a character still alive after being burned? I had too many questions at the end.

Excellent

This is the second book I've listened to by Adam Cesare (the first being Video Night), and I must say I was deeply impressed both times. He knows how to tell a story. Lots of interest, suspense, and character building. I loved it and am waiting eagerly for his next. I wholeheartedly recommend this author.

I received a copy of the book for free at my request, but this review is totally voluntary.

Unswitchoffable

This was a really well crafted horror mystery romance. It reveals the truth bit by bit with a few omg moments. I've listened to a couple of other of the author's books but this was far and away the best.

Terrific Satanic Folk Horror

In a recent blog post to promote the audiobook release of The Summer Job, Adam Cesare wrote about how it hasn't been as successful sales-wise as his Video Night but that he's still hopeful it's able to find the right audience. "While I’d never say one of my books is better than the other, I will say that The Summer Job feels more personal," he said. Following Cesare online, through his blog and social media, anytime The Summer Job comes up, it's obvious that this book has a very special place in his heart and that he is - rightfully - damn proud of the work he did here.

The Summer Job is a work of satanic folk horror that finds goth-punk chick Claire taking a job at the Brandt Hotel. Located in a small town a few hours outside Boston, the hotel is Mission's best-kept secret - a popular and well-regarded establishment, it's been highly praised by past guests. Or at least those who have lived long enough to talk up the perks of their accommodations. When Claire takes on the role of guest liaison, she thinks it's a chance to redefine her life and maybe reinvent herself. It's not until later, of course, that all the peculiarities of the Brandt and its staff start pointing toward much, much darker secrets...

Whether you read or listen to the audiobook edition, it's readily apparent that The Summer Job is a labor of love. I've read, maybe, half of Cesare's oeuvre thus far and I dig his style and startlingly clear affection for the horror genre a lot. The Summer Job, though, is Cesare operating a higher level. His characters and their story arcs are pretty phenomenal, and the writing is solidly on-point.

Early on, he describes a chef behind the pick-up counter at a restaurant as being window-boxed by the frame; it's a small thing to be sure, but the particular word choice and details provided are careful and deliberate, as are a lot of Cesare's other stylistic choices here. The ensuing description of the man's sweat clouding the metal counter-top, and the dialogue between him and Claire, make for a highly memorable and cinematic scene that cements exactly who these characters are, and more importantly that Cesare knows exactly who these characters are. He knows these people and he's smart enough to get out of their way and let them work their mojo. Through a bit of deft dialogue, he introduces Claire's friend Allison, along with her particular ticks that let you know right off the bat who this girl is, unnecessary abbreviations and all. "What are you doing on the Newb," she asks Claire, referring to Newbury Street, and calling her "babykins."

Cesare's operating in a character-rich environment here and we get to know most of his cast very, very well over the course of the book. This is both good and bad. Good because we become intimately familiar with Claire and the people of Mission, and bad because getting to know the employees of the Brandt means we can't fully trust any of them and we're constantly on edge waiting for them to freak out. Cesare does a fantastic job establishing Mission's behind-the-scenes power struggles, letting readers in on alliances, history, and secrets Claire isn't privy to. We worry about her, and Claire is pretty damn easy to sympathize with, even as we're never sure what those around her want or what they'll do to get it.

The Summer Job has a lot going for it, from its leading lady to the clashes between opposing forces within Mission, but reigning supreme over it all is narrator Stacey Glemboski. It didn't take me long to start searching out other titles she's narrated, knowing full well that I'm going to be looking for more of her work. She's an excellent narrator, shifting smoothly between male and female voices, accents, tones, and delivery. This isn't a long book, less than eight hours, but it's so easy to listen and sink into that it feels much shorter.

Between Cesare's writing and deft characters and Glemboski's reading, I was freaking hooked the whole through. The Summer Job was absolutely terrific, and also a necessary reminder that I really need to get my ass in gear and fill those gaps that I've missed in Cesare's work.

[Note: I received an Audible copy of this title from the author following my request through AudioBookBoom and I provided this voluntary review.]

Interesting idea and good characters, doesn’t stick the landing

The story was interesting, though the execution sometimes didn’t make a lot of sense. I liked the protagonist quite a lot, and some of the secondary characters were compelling. That said the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying. It’s still worth a listen, but don’t go in expecting to be wowed.

Fantastic Horror, good slowburn

This was quite different than Adam Cesare’s other work. It moves a bit slower and is less body horror than many of his other works. I tried the book and made it through the first four hours before I realized I had no idea what was happening. I read the reviews and saw that all of the most recent reviews were overwhelmingly positive. I love all of his other work that I have listened to and didn’t know why I was lost. It turns out that it was a problem with me and not the book. I started it over after 5 hours in and I can tell you, for a horror story, it has depth. Depth of plot and characters. When I payed attention the second time, I realized this book is fantastic.
The narration is pitch perfect, with a beautiful and easy to listen to voice. She nearly makes this audiobook on her own, even without the terrific pacing and plot.
This reminds me, as do all of his other works, of a fantastic 80s horror movie. If you haven’t given him a try, I highly recommend his work, it is well written and way more original than anything King, Straub, Hill, or Koontz have done in decades.

A restrained, eerie, and mean spirited trear

I've been impressed with this author, and this may be my favorite of his books. It's a slow burner that takes it's time to build to a brutal and realistic ending. loved the imagery and satanic chills.

Well done horror story worth checking out

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

This was a very well done horror story about a couple cults battling each other and your main character stuck in the middle of it. The story is interesting, the narration is well done. All in all, if you're looking for a great horror story, this would be a great choice.

Great listen/read

Full disclosure the author gave me a copy of this allusion book to review.
That being said it is a great listen the narrator nails it. The story is great and moves along at a great pace. I’ve said in other reviews it’s great to have authors like Adam Cesare keeping the horror novel going.

Fun summer listen

I don’t think cult books get the credit deserve and this one is definitely worth a credit. There are a few times when the character makes a dumb decision but it’s not overly frequent. Narrator does a good job of distinguishing the characters.