The Bleak December

By: Kevin G. Summers

Narrated by: George Kuch

The old timers knew it was going to be a bad winter, but no one could have predicted it would be this bad. A supernatural storm has fallen on New Hampshire and a cult leader is whipping the people of the Granite State into a frenzy. Now a handful of rugged folk from the North Country are all that stand between a tyrant and his plans for dominion. Snow is piling in the Great North Woods and the dead walk among the trees. Beware the winter wasteland.

©2016 Kevin G. Summers (P)2017 Kevin G. Summers

"And then it went black."

A small town in New Hampshire, Stratford Corner, already isolated and, with deep snow falling, about to become more so: Winter is coming. And so much more.
With a superbly orchestrated start, the reader is taken on a panoramic ride around the town, meeting, even if only briefly, with those who are to become players in the oncoming story so that, by the time the action really starts, we already know them, even feel a little empathy with them. They are already real people - and bad things are about to happen.

The wonderful George Kuch enhances this feeling of knowing this little town and the people living there. His warm, gently gruff voice feels so familiar, comforting: he isn't just the narrator of a story, he is telling this personally, to you. Perfectly paced, never over dramatic, each character is an individual, and his homely accent as he unfolds the terrible tale makes the reader want to hang on to every word and beg for more, more ...

And it is a scary story, feeling strange, but also somehow so possible, intriguing especially through the first two thirds of the book. However, repitition of certain aspects of remembrance of, in particular, one of the main protagonists, seperated from his wife and daughter, began to to intrude and it was the narrator's honeyed tones which carried me through to the (rather abrupt) ending.

Mr.Summers" power to draw in and involve his readers is excellent, as is his ability to bring his characters to full blooded life. Plus, the imagination behind the story itself is good so, overall, a very decent book but one which could have been even better with a little trimming in the latter part. I was gifted The Bleak December by the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom: thank you so much. I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it to anyone, not of a nervous disposition, to wile away cold evenings. Just don't go out into the snow ...

Not a bad book

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book and was glad to find that it was not bad at all. It was certainly a fast moving plot.

So Not Stephen King...

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No. I found it long and tedious. It was a story reminiscent of Stephen King but no where near as brilliant, entertaining/enlightening. Yes it was bleak..boy was it bleak. Back story and history don't seem to fill in the gaps till it's too late. By then I am so annoyed with not knowing why something is happening, I don't care.

Would you be willing to try another book from Kevin G. Summers? Why or why not?

No

Have you listened to any of George Kuch’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Have never listened to Kuch performance before. I think he is talented.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

noo..way!

Any additional comments?

I have never written a review so negative. I think it's because there is merit to the story but it just drags on and on with character internal monologues.The waste of potential disappoints me and makes me irritable. I used a treasured point for this so, I was determined to finish it though.

wow

loved it on the edge of my seat the entire time would recommend this book to anyone

Different

when I started this book I was not sure I would like it. It started off slow but then started slowly picking up speed. The emd was a bit anti climatic but a decent book. The narrarator did a great job and I think made the difference in this book. Decent book to add to your library.