The horror that exists when those you once said 'hello' to turn on you.

It's even worse when you understand that they don't care why they've turned on you.

Anger, revenge...they turn the nicest people into monsters that are worse than anything our minds can conjure up. For one, they're real.

And that's the scariest thing of all.

Andrew Holland is the protagonist in this unsettling tale, and he's a best selling horror author - a profession his neighbors deem 'unsavory,' though they don't let him know this until he finds a dead girl's body in a construction site one morning.

The rest, as they say, is rather uncomfortable history.

Deception, death, and Andrew's own paranoia are pushed to their limits in this 'right-next-door' horror novel.

It's a solid tale of what could happen if humans feel justified in their anger - and decide they can act on it. It's the blindness of rage, of grief, and what it can propel us to if closure is never found.

It's a sad tale, a horrible tale (in the best sense), and it's horror in a terrible-pit-of-your-gut feeling - it's ANIMOSITY. It's by James Newman.

And it's damn good. ( )

3,5 /5 stars

I went looking for it because of the great reviews it received and from the reviews I expected a bit more. It's a very good book but I don't think it's awesome, sorry. One thing's for sure: that's why I prefer living downtown, rather than living in the suburbs! ( )

I don't even know what to say. I'm moved, I'm pissed off, and I'm shaken. This was a powerful tale.

A brutal story made even more so by the fact that it could (mostly) happen. A child's dead body is discovered by a horror author. From then on, his life will never be the same.

There are many levels here, from a fearless look at mob mentality to a scathing commentary on the sad state of our media. All combining into a monumental explosion of a denouement. The only issue I had was that the story went just a little over the top, as far as being realistic, but by that time, I was too caught up in the drama to care.

Be prepared for a rough ride because Mr. Newman knows all of our buttons, and he pushes every single one of them. Can you handle this kind of Animosity? Come on, I dare you.

My highest recommendation!

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review and this is it. ( )

For reference, here's the list of my Top Twenty Reads of All Time. (ANIMOSITY has not been added yet, because I want to showcase those that came before it.) Once you click over, I'd like you to note only the top five. Now, on with the review.

ANIMOSITY is the best book I've read. Period. Will you think so? Well, this comes down to, as always, personal preference and the foundation on which you've built your life. My own perception of the human condition is different than yours. I'm a horror writer, parent, and life-long dog lover. Some of us will share one or two or all of those traits but still will not view the world around us in the same light. With ANIMOSITY, James Newman forced a mirror into my face. I wasn't reading about Andrew Holland. The events of this book were happening to me. Never before have I been so affected by a piece of fiction. When I wasn't crying I was filled with a tangible sense of dread. Throughout the entire novel, something sinister lingered in my peripheral vision. Newman channeled malice and foreboding, and poured both into me, as if he'd stuck a funnel down my throat.

This book asks hard questions: Does art truly imitate life? Are writers of dark fiction, at their cores, dark people, and is that a bad thing? Should society be mindful of those who create scenes of murder and mayhem for the entertainment of others? Your answer to that question will affect how much you appreciate this novel. Furthermore, Newman delves into mob mentality and self-imposed reality. We've all seen footage or been part of a riot. You've seen the maniacal glee spread across the faces of persons you wouldn't think possible of such violence. The human mind is a scary place, and once that hunk of gray jelly settles on what it considers fact there's not much anyone can do to sway its perception of reality. Just look at religion and politics, how either side of the fence can be so adamant about their beliefs that they will ignore truth and hard evidence. No one likes being wrong, and that can draw out the worst in everyone of us. It is not the story or plot or even the characters that make this book exceptional (although those parts are outstanding as well) but the overall message.

Placing this novel as number one on my list of favorite reads was a much harder decision than I expected. I had to consider several things: entertainment value, story progression, the quality of the writing, and personal preference. I think the most important part of Newman's tribute to the horror genre is that every chapter, every page, every word is important to the piece. That cannot be said of any of the other novels in my Top Twenty list. Depending on what kind of reader you are, superfluous detail can be fun or tedious to read. Marissha Pessl's NIGHT FILM, the book that previously held the number one spot on my list, came together at the end to form one large picture, but I would be lying if I said there weren't parts when I was bored senseless. Same goes for NOS4A2, IT, HORNS, and THE HOBBIT. ANIMOSITY is relentless. Not once did I check how much I had left to read, and, even though I required brief breaks from the unyielding tension, I never actually wanted to stop reading.

The blurb on the cover states: "...one mean hunk of nightmare..." You'd be wise to believe that statement. I cannot stress enough how unsettling this book is, and I refuse to spoil a single word of it by warning you of the atrocities you'll witness.

In summation: I've done my best with this review, but I've come nowhere near doing justice to Newman's tale of an unlucky fellow set upon by a neighborhood possessed by false truth. ANIMOSITY is a masterwork, a canvas painted with social commentary and buckets of blood that should not be ignored.
( )

Andrew Holland seemed to have it all. He was a successful author of horror novels. He had a beautiful daughter and a fairly decent relationship with his ex-wife. He lived in a great neighborhood with his dog (and best friend), Norman (named after Norman Bates from "Psycho", of course). His 11-yr-old daughter, Samantha, would come and stay every Wednesday and every other weekend. Andrew had plenty of time to write and he loved his life.

Until everything fell apart.

While on a walk with Norman one afternoon, Andrew came upon the body of a young girl who had been raped and murdered. He was quickly ruled out as a suspect, but not according to his neighbors. As time went by, rumors, stories, and accusations built up until Norman's standing in the neighborhood left him alone and friendless. Information from his past came up and questions regarding his writing genre made the rumors worse.

Then there was another murder. In the same fashion. In the same town. Repercussions started slow at first. Neighbors giving him strange looks and pointing at him through closed curtains. Books withdrawn from store shelves. But then they became increasingly ominous. Andrew's vehicle was damaged in the middle of the night. His beloved dog was poisoned. Until one night they all came like a vicious mob, wielding weapons and screaming obscenities.

It was just him against the entire neighborhood. He had no phone, no car, no way of getting out. They had him surrounded. How was Andrew going to escape? Would he escape? What would happen to Samantha?

I read this book from start to finish and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It's not just a horror story; James Newman makes you think about your own moral compass and how you judge other people on the surface. Very well written and thought provoking. Will recommend! ( )