LOGAN VS NIGHT CREW 3: HUNTING GROUND

Logan digs into the conclusion of Brad Ricks’ NIGHT CREW trilogy with HUNTING GROUND and loads of vampire and werewolf hunting action.

TITLE: Night Crew 3: Hunting Ground

AUTHOR: Brad Ricks

GENRE: Supernatural Thriller

PAGES: 357

FORMAT: E-book preorder

PRICE: $4.99 e-book

The forests are dark and deep. Filled with unknown creatures and some of which go beyond the comprehension of the human mind. Arkansas, as far as I have seen isn’t known for their forests, but they do have them. It is our destination, and the small town of Mina, which has been terrorized with an uptick of people being found dead. Each mauled beyond recognition. Could it be a bear? Or something worse…

This is the setting for the newest Night Crew Book. Night Crew 3: Hunting Ground by Brad Ricks. 

I was lucky enough to get an ARC after I really enjoyed the first two. With the original being my favorite of them all. The second brought a shift in perspective from first person to third. I have talked with Brad and the intention is obvious, it’s to get into the head of all the members of the crew, not just Michael. 

Brad starts the book off with a bang. A perceived bear attack leaves David injured and his girlfriend dead. Cleverly we never see the beast attacking which is common when setting up the dread in a horror novel. All we see is yellow eyes, and black fur which adds to the intrigue, as we know there is something out there, but our characters do not. 

The foregone conclusion is the attack was caused by a bear. However, Brad hits us immediately with the Sheriff knowing more than he is letting on. Fun fact, it ain’t a bear.

From there Brad does a fantastic Job building the town of Mina. It feels similar to my own southern town. Everyone knows everybody, and mob mentality can set in easily. Especially in the face of mounting bodies. The town and forest around it feel incredibly alive and beautiful. It is as if you are there, breathing the Arkansas air. Brad’s ability to put us into the setting really shines from the start.

However, this also leads to one of the things about the book that didn’t work for me. It takes a long time to build up to our Protagonist Michael, and when it does it is through a vision he is having. Which almost makes you wonder why we are presented with essentially two storylines that are disjointed. Leaving the reader waiting for the Crew to make their true appearance. Which may have been Brad’s intention, but it took away from the story for me.

I’ll admit I kept asking myself, where is the Night Crew? Which took away from my enjoyment. However, once they made their appearance, I was all in. Especially with the possibility of werewolf vs.. vampire action keeping me reading.

It was a race to the finish after that, as they tried to save the town from a bloody fate. The Night Crew makes uneasy alliances that must be mitigated to save the people of Mina.

Brad leaves us with an ending I didn’t see coming and sets up the next book right away. 

Even if this wasn’t my favorite, I am still enjoying the series and cannot wait for the next one. 

Grab it when it is released on July 3rd! Don’t miss it!

The woods come alive around me, but only for an instance. Silence falls as quickly as night. A crack echoes behind me and I turn. Four yellow eyes stare from the darkness. 

Something jumps, and pain fills me as I fight for my life. A claw pierces my chest pulling out my still beating heart.

And I’m gone…

Until next time.

Logan Patrick has earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association, and author of The Disappearing of Three Forks, and has been included in the Horrorzine. As well as a collection, Marked: Tales of S.T.A.N.G.E., Logan has a background in theater, from acting to directing. As well as a play that is still in development.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing, nor do the views or opinions of Crystal Lake necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or its staff. Thank you for understanding.