Title: Try Not to Burn
Author: Michael David Matula
Genre: Horror
Publication Date: September 13, 2012
Summary
Shot to death in the line of duty, rookie cop Brandon Morales awakens in a much darker world than the one he left. Trying to make sense of it all, Brand stumbles across Sam and Jane, two women simply struggling to survive. With their souls hanging in the balance, and eternal damnation never more than one wrong turn away, these three strangers will need to put their trust in one another in order to stay one step ahead of the flames of Hell. But when enemies pose as trusted friends, when lost loves crumble the will to continue, and when hidden desires threaten to tear allegiances apart, it will take more than faith and determination to pass God’s final test. It will take a miracle.
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My Review
I received a free ecopy of this book for an honest review.
When I started this book I was afraid I wasn’t going to be able to get into it but I was so wrong. It quickly grabbed my interest and I wasn’t ready for it to end. I was disappointed when I looked online for a sequel and there isn’t one.
Try Not to Burn is a story about people who have ended up in purgatory. These aren’t people who are there because of some white lies or other “minor” sins, but because of the biggies like murder. I found Michael David Matula’s version of purgatory interesting. It’s not anything like I have pictured it. And having grown up Catholic, I have pictured it a few times.
I liked the main characters, Brand, Sam, and Jane. Even though they were wary of each other at first, they eventually opened up and I felt I knew why they had a chance to not burn (or go to hell for eternity – at least that’s what they believe happens when someone burns).
The author has a writing style that is easy to follow and his descriptions were such that I was able to picture Hell City and all of its beings.
I liked this book but the way it ended suggests that there will be another one. I’m hoping…
About the Author
Michael David Matula is a novelist and short story writer from Chicago. His first novel, Try Not To Burn, was released by Post Mortem Press, and is inspired partly by a brush with death he experienced as a child. His short fiction has been published in magazines, anthologies and online by DarkFuse, Sci-Fi Short Story Magazine, Sekhmet Press, and Hermit Studio. Michael is currently working on the sequel to Try Not To Burn, when he’s not finding new and exciting ways to napalm his free time.
Author’s Links
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