Gollitok

By: Andrew Najberg

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

In a post-nuclear Eastern Europe, Hammel E Varka departs for a remote island to join a survey team cataloguing the abandoned Gollitok prison in the hopes that he will redeem his family's tarnished reputation. After the passage across the strait leaves a team member injured, Varka quickly realizes that this survey is far from routine and that what he thought he knew about the island was a cover for more horrifying truths. As his team presses deeper into the decaying facility, hidden agendas splinter the team, and they find themselves beset with dangers beyond their worst nightmares.

Contains mature themes.

©2023 Andrew Najberg (P)2024 Tantor

Original story, well read

Really enjoyed the scene, setting, and world building. I think some authors in this genre can’t always pull off the world building bit and it feels a bit forced. This one was not that. Good all around.

Old School Horror

A Jules Verne style adventure wrapped in HP Lovecraft, Najberg’s exciting story is full of monsters, traitors and mysteries in a post-apocalyptic, dark world. The voice performance is cold and crisp, much like the prose. This is good old fashioned fun from a new master of terror.

Shutter Island meets Fallout

Gollitok, by Andrew Najberg, is a well-crafted story about a group of researchers and military personnel who are cataloging an abandoned prison called Gollitok. From its opening chapters, you get to know this post-apocalyptic world and get thrust right into it.

If I were to compare this to anything, I would say it is almost a mix of Shutter Island and Fallout.

I am giving this book 3 and a half stars. This book was really well-written and the characters were interesting. My issue is I felt like the book didn’t really begin until way after the 50% mark. The first 2/3rds of the book dragged and had a lot of exposition but not much else.
That being said, once the book took off…it really took off. The book's last third was a full-force, adrenaline-pumping, thrill ride that made me want to keep reading.
If you are looking for a slow burn in the beginning kind of book, this one is for you

Great story and narration!

I went into this book blind but was not disappointed! I loved the character development and impending sense of doom. Joe Hempel did an amazing job adding different accents/dialects for each character.

Excellent Story!

I am so glad I finally listened to this book! The writing was captivating & I felt like I was in the middle of it with the characters. It was intense and I was actually holding my breath during the last 5 minutes. Must read.