Black Tide

February 14, 2022
Jones debuts with an uneven, snark-filled romp through a postapocalyptic world. Financially unstable Beth makes another in a string of questionable decisions when she has a one-night stand with the neighbor at her current house sitting gig, washed-up film producer Mike, who’s still grieving the death of his wife. The world ends the night of their hookup, when an alien invasion disguised as a meteor shower leaves the planet devastated. Masses of people are missing and horrific creatures from an alternate dimension roam the earth. When Beth and Mike awaken to discover this new world order, they set out to survive together, but their escape from the extraterrestrial terrors stalls out on the Oregon coast. Between battling deadly aliens who seem to be just as confused as their prey and frantically searching for car keys, Beth and Mike learn to overcome enough of their insecurities to put up a fight. The pacing is slightly off, with a slow build-up and dragged-out suspense, but the unusual aliens and the climax’s edge-of-your-seat thrills make it worthwhile. The sarcastic, self-deprecating characters and quirky setup set this first contact tale apart, even if it’s something of a mixed bag. Agent: Amanda Jain, BookEnds Literary.

March 1, 2022
Screenwriter Jones' debut novel unfolds like a movie, a terrifying nightmare come to life, an intense, realistic portrayal of an alien invasion. Beth and Mike are flawed, lost souls, holed up in neighboring homes in an upscale, Oregon coastal development during the off-season. When Beth ventures over the fence, the two have a one-night stand, a very personal experience that coincides with a tear between multiple universes, opening up a flood of angry, confused, and violent creatures who descend upon Earth and start destroying everything in their paths. The action-oriented, blisteringly fast-paced plot is authentically rendered; but beware, not all make it out alive. Beth and Mike take turns telling the story in an engaging conversational tone, a narrative choice which not only captures the chaos and disorientation of the action but also allows for character development to flow naturally. A solid, harrowing, apocalypse as it unfolds, this horror-sf hybrid is for fans of The Silence by Tim Lebbon (2015), and Bird Box by Josh Malerman (2014) with a dash of Lovecraftian sensibility in the vein of Caitl�n R. Kiernan's Tinfoil Dossier series.

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April 1, 2022

Beth is dog-sitting at a remote Oregon beach house when she makes a connection with a neighbor. Mike and Beth wake up after a champagne-fueled one-night stand to find that a major astronomical event has brought more than just meteorites and a light show--it's an alien invasion. Then a lost car key strands them, along with Jake the dog. There are inhuman screams coming from the dunes, and the tide is quickly rising. Mike and Beth's descent into terror and examination of the mental and physical limits between them make for a superb, fast-paced read that will compel readers to quickly devour the book. The cover is stark and does a good job of projecting the loneliness of the main characters. VERDICT Excellent writing, a consuming plot, and relatable characters make this an easy recommendation for library collection where sf/horror circulates well.--Jeremiah Paddock

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