Christopher Rice (1) (1978–)

Bone Music"Bone Music" is original, well-written, emotionally engaging and very very threatening. It is all the things I want in a thriller but I can't continue with it.

I was only 11% through this book when I set it aside, intending to get back to it when my mood lifted. That was three months ago and I haven't been able to bring myself back to it.

I suspect that this will end up being a popular series with a remarkable heroine. The obstacle for me is that I'm at a point in the story where a show more woman who has survived childhood abduction and abuse, commercial exploitation by her father and all the nastiness associated with public notoriety in this peck-me-to-death-on-Twitter threaten-me-on-Instagram age and who has gone on to build a safe space for herself, is about to have that space violated with the help of those who should be protecting her.

It's a series. She's the main character. So she must survive this also. At the 20% mark, there must be a twist that sets her on a new path.

The problem is that this mindset, this careful planning of violation and destruction, revolts me. It's too real. Too common. I don't want it in my head, especially when it's placed there by someone who writes as well as Christopher Rice.

I'm reluctantly adding this to my DNF pile. The good thing is that it's taught me that there are some plot devices that I need to avoid. I'll take a look at Christopher Rice's other books and see if there is something there that will allow me to enjoy his obvious talent. show less

3.5 stars

This is a quick, spooky read that mixes southern gothic with things that go bump in the night. The setting is Spring House, an antebellum mansion outside New Orleans with a pre-Civil War history steeped in violence & blood. It burned to the ground in 1850 but was restored in present day after being purchased by the wealthy Chaisson family.
As the story opens, Caitlin Chaisson is celebrating her birthday & receives an unwanted gift...witnessing her husband Troy & one of the party show more planners having a private celebration in the upstairs bathroom. It's the last straw for this fragile, insecure woman & she attempts suicide in the backyard gazebo.
This sets off a chain of events that will threaten the lives of 3 people closest to her.
Blake Henderson grew up with Caitlin but they've been estranged since he filled her in on Troy's extracurricular activities. He's still haunted by the murder of his lover 15 years ago & about to learn some hard truths.
Willie Thomas has been the family's groundskeeper for most of his life & knows every tree & flower. He also knows there's something strange about the plant growth & hears whispers about what occurred there during the time of slavery.
Nova is his daughter & a student at LSU. During research on Spring House, she uncovered odd stories passed down by slaves after the plantation was destroyed.
Caitlin's failed suicide awakens a terrible evil lurking underground for over 100 years, waiting for a chance to exact revenge. Blake, Willie & Nova band together in an effort to understand the deadly force & avoid being added to the rising body count.
This is a supernatural thriller that supports Faulkner's theory that the past is never past. Louisiana is the perfect setting for a dark, unsettling tale that is a horror story on the surface but also a commentary on weightier issues such as forgiveness & the state of your soul.
The author does a good job of creating an atmospheric read. Vivid descriptions of the terror unleashed in the present are mixed with unspeakable conditions endured by slaves in the past. It's easy to conjure the lush vegetation, overhead canopies of branches & vines, the unseen critters scuttling in the dark. All this lends a pervasive sense of menace you're sure you could catch sight of if you just turn the pages fast enough.
The only false note for me was the apparent ease with which characters accepted some of the explanations for what was happening. Maybe they were a little more open minded since they grew up there. I think my reaction would have been a series of "WTF?" 's quickly followed by a seat on the next bus out of town.
Ultimately, those left standing are changed forever. Not just by what they've seen but because they've been forced to take a hard look inward & accept responsibility for their actions.
The ending leaves the door open for a sequel. One of them has been saddled with a "gift" & it might be interesting to see what they do with it. In the meantime, I'll be a little nicer to my house plants. show less

Sometimes star ratings are really confusing to me, because a three star read can be a real disappointment, and it can be a completely acceptable read. It all depends on the book. In the case of Blood music, the rating is a "I liked it, but I'll never re-read it" kind of rating. I still like the satisfaction that comes from Charlie totally dominating, but it almost feels cheap. You know how things will end, so the stakes aren't that high. I'm also fed up with misogynistic, homophobic, lunatic show more villains. As well as with references to Noah/Dylan's and Cole's past. I found the spin on Charlie being the protector of Luke well enough. Gotta love a man who's masculinity isn't threatened by his girlfriend saving his ass. show less

The Vines is the latest Southern Gothic horror tale by author Christopher Rice and it is one very creepy story. It takes place in an old mansion on the outskirts of New Orleans. The mansion may have been restored to its original southern glory but it can’t escape its cruel southern past. In fact, when its owner, Caitlin Chaisson, tries to commit suicide after finding her husband with another woman, she fails but when her blood is absorbed into the ground, it sets off a horrifying chain of show more events that is rooted literally in that past.

This is a tale drenched in the lore, superstitions, and history of the Bayou and dripping with atmosphere and creepiness. Character development receives a bit of short shrift here but that’s okay because it is replaced by nature as antagonist and there is something truly frightening about the idea of nature as blood-thirsty villain. The Vines was great fun to read but I feel I need to add a warning because there is a downside to reading it - you may never look at vine-covered buildings the same way again. show less