I really enjoyed this book. It had enough twists to keep me looking forward to the next chapter ( )

I don't recall how I initially stumbled upon this title, but I remember the fact that it was set in my home state of Michigan intrigued me. As a native Michigander, there was just so much "oh, my god, that's exactly what it's like there!" that I even suggested a friend writing a book set in Michigan read "Asylum Lake" to get a better feel for the culture.

Now, the story...

This is one of those tales that draws you in and doesn't let you go. Bedlam Falls, a small Michigan town, holds some dark history. In the 1950's, under mysterious and bloody circumstances, the insane asylum on the shores of its lake suddenly closes without explanation. And though the doors are sealed, something sinister still is able to stick around. The spirits of the dead still demand vengeance, and that bodes ill for three generations of the Tanner family.

"Asylum Lake" takes place primarily in the modern day through the eyes of Brady Tanner, a recent widower still recovering from the tragic death of his pregnant wife. Taking some time to recover by retreating back to the sleepy little town, Brady soon finds himself on the spirit's hit list, and they'll stop at nothing to get to him. Brady, however, isn't about to lay down and die quiet. With flashbacks to the 1950's and 1970's, both Brady and the reader begin to understand the horror of what lies buried in the lake, and to make the cause of spirits, there own.

My only complaint about this book was that it left me desperately wanting more. There's a sequel on the horizon, and I can hardly wait to read it. In the meantime, I suggest "Asylum Lake" to anyone who loves a good blood-curdling mystery. ( )

I saw glimmers of greatness in this book, though they were overshadowed by some not so great stuff.

What I liked: The characters are each unique and the dialogue is handled well. The plot is engaging and kept me involved. I enjoyed the writing style. Evans is able to show a scene vividly without an overabundance of words. The story moves at a good pace, never dragging or getting weighed down with too many facts.

What I didn't like: The story jumps from the 1970s, to present day, back to the '70s and even further back to those characters' memories. It's difficult to get a foothold in the story, and the eras and characters don't connect until midway through. I often felt like I was reading various short stories, rather than a novel. There is no real main character to connect with. The ending felt totally anticlimactic, particularly after the huge build-up leading us there.

The final thing that bothered me is something I rarely comment on - editing. This book is riddled with problems that are impossible to ignore. A good edit would make a world of difference. ( )

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must confess I was originally drawn to this book for two reasons: it is set in Michigan, the place where I born and grew up and it's horror. Little did I know, I'd discover another connection, that to Seattle, where I now reside. If this wasn't enough to give me a shiver, the story of Asylum Lake certainly was! Beware, you might not want to read right before turning off the lights and going to bed. Too scary? Not for me! This is exactly the kind of mysterious paranormal horror I love to read. The characters attract tragedy and death. At first, they seem like a very unfortunate lineage, but as this mysterious thriller unfolds you will be enlightened to the purpose behind the events. For those from the 'mitt' you will like the authentic setting and subtle humor. I had to chuckle at the Up North House. Any true Michigander goes up north for vacation because south would lead to Chicago. I can not think of a better setting for this tale to take place than on a secluded lake in northern Michigan, whether it is on a hot, muggy summer night or a cool, breezy fall day, viewing an abandoned state asylum would be enough to scare even the toughest Mid-Westerner.

Another interesting aspect, and I'm certain this is the case with many small towns, is our fascination with old crime stories. I appreciate how influential cases are sited by the author (whether they are real or not) and work to draw a connection from past to present. This grounds the paranormal making it believable, which in my opinion is a key element to escalating the horror level. Getting a reader to imagine that an event truly could or did happen is essential. Old crimes and cases don't die in places like Bedlam Falls. One thing you can count on is people will certainly remember what happened but might forget the details. By making use of this human tendency, Evans creates a creepy mystery. Circumstances similar to the one surrounding the characters of Asylum Lake become legends in towns like Bedlam. Stories permanently attach to the land, they seep in and hibernate until the next thaw. Brady brings the thaw, but why and how? Well, I'm not going to give that away! I can't wait to read the next book and learn more about what happened to Lionel and Dr. Clovis! ( )

I do love a good horror story, and Asylum Lake fits the bill. It reels you in while developing the storyline and main character and then slams it home with one of the more horrific murder scenes I have read in a long time. Hello, has anyone seen the twin’s hands and feet lately. Try looking in the kitchen sink if you have the stomach for it. All that being said the book itself falls short with more grammatical errors than something I would have written, and an ending that left me as a reader flipping through the back pages wondering if I had missed the climax.

Brady was an ace reporter; this is in the past tense since he seemingly has moved on due to the death of his fiancé. She died in a freak accident that defines being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Brady's only true friend is his dog Gruff, and the two of them decide to venture up to Bedlam Falls, MI where he had spent many a summer relaxing by the lake as a child. Brady's parents, both recently deceased, had a cabin which had been remodeled into a home away from home. What better way to forget about the past than dredging up old memories from your childhood.

The only problem with Brady's plan is the damn scrabble game is acting like an Ouija Board. Remember that little circle with an eye and the hole in the middle that allowed you to talk to spirits. Damn, it still creeps me out thinking about it, and now thanks to Mr. Evans I might not be able to play scrabble again. Apparently there are a few spirits meandering about the old cabin and we really are not sure if they are friendly, or plan on consuming Gruff and Brady for dinner.

So Brady begins poking around and come to find out his father, a former detective had found some clues about an old murder and was doing his best to figure out what happened. Throw in an old flame, April, and you have the mixings for a perfectly formed romantic death trap. As I said before, the storyline was really impressive and I did find myself flipping through the pages rather quickly in order to find out what was going to happen next.

As always I try not to give away too many details and I strongly believe with this book the story is the punch line, so if you want more insight you will just have to read it. I will now bring up a few shortcomings of the book and things that will hopefully change in volume II.

Brady's dialogue was just not believable. The guy is a reporter for a major newspaper and at times he talks like he didn't graduate high school. I could have done without the tampon scene; it is just too stereotypical to bother writing down. The lack of editing had me scratching my head in wonder. Granted Mr. Evans did tell me my copy was an advance edition, but it really needed a lot of re-work. I know, I know, how many people say that about my writing as well, but I have to put it in here if it is what I believe.

My biggest disappointment was the ending, or really lack thereof. The book just kind of stops after building up your tempo to the highest point possible. It would be like licking that lollipop and when you decide to take the final bight, anticipating that tootsie roll center, only to realize it was hollow. Nothing there. Empty. I think part of the reason I was so disappointed in the ending was because the rest of the story was so damn good. If the author would decide to re-write the last couple of chapters, or add in a chapter with some sort of climax this book would go from being ok to being awesome.

Anyway, even with the negatives the book is definitely one of the more entertaining reads I have picked up in a while. I would suggest perusing through it with grandeur expectations on what Mr. Evans would be writing for a sequel. He is very talented and I for one will be keeping up with his work going forward. ( )