Mr. Dunbar as given this New Yorker yet one more reason to hate New Jersey. The Pines is filled with engaging and diverse characters that I found very refreshing for a horror novel. A must read for any fan of cryptozoology. The only thing missing was the sound of banjos and the soft whispers of someone squealing like a pig. ( )

Rating: 3.5 of 5

My first experience with Robert Dunbar proved enjoyable.

At first I wasn't sure where the story was going with so many different characters; part two cleared up any confusion. Reminiscent of a few (beloved) X-Files episodes, e.g. "The Jersey Devil." Way more "Ewwww!" moments than I expected.

Vivid imagery and well-written. I probably won't read it again, though. ( )

Robert Dunbar's "The Pines" was unfortunately a disappointment for me after reading a good number of positive reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. The book never took off for me. Dunbar's descriptions of New Jersey's Pine Barrens and it's unusual inhabitants were too lengthy and dominated the book. Some readers might be ok with that, but I felt too much of the book's depth was spent in this area and not enough on plot development and characterization.

Dunbar introduces a LOT of characters, but only spends time on one or two. The book only begins to pick up momentum in the 75 pages as the small group of protagonists start to realize what they actually dealing with in the Barrens and quit blaming dogs, inbreeds, and still owners.

It's obvious that Dunbar is familiar with the Jersey Devil legend and the Pine Barrens area. He spends a large number of pages sharing that info with the reader. I just wish he would have put the same effort into creating a chilling plot revolving around that legend.

I'm sure there are those who will enjoy "The Pines". This reader, however, never got out of the woods. ( )

This novel was a big disappointment. The blurbs on the back of the cover calling it "A Masterpiece" "Among the Classics of modern horror".....were so off base. It was slow, plodding, not alot of action and just plain boring. The writing also threw me off--he would start with dialogue, and you don't know which character is talking--had to go back to re-read passages...And the characters were not involving...and not enough of the Jersey Devil, which would have made an excellent horror story had the author taken this in another direction. Too much exposition and dreary characters. I would have loved to have seen what RICHARD LAYMON would have done with a tale about the legendary creature. ( )

I found this book incredibly hard to get into and finish. I eventually started skimming heavily, only reading a few words from each page and that made it at least somewhat bearable. The dialogue is horrible and doesn't flow. The story is meandering and down right boring. If you are looking for a book to help you fall instantly asleep at night, this is the book for you. Otherwise, avoid at all costs. ( )