It’s August in Alaska, and geology professor Jack Oswald prepares for the new school year. But when hundreds of huge holes mysteriously appear overnight in the frozen tundra north of the Arctic Circle, Jack receives an unexpected phone call. An oil company exec hires Jack to investigate, and he picks his climatologist wife and two of their graduate students as his team. Uncharacteristically, Jack … Jack also lets Aileen O’Shannon, a bewitchingly beautiful young photojournalist, talk him into coming along as their photographer. When they arrive in the remote oil town of Deadhorse, the exec and a biologist to protect them from wild animals join the team. Their task: to assess the risk of more holes opening under the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and the wells and pipelines that feed it. But they discover a far worse danger lurks below. When it emerges, it threatens to shatter Jack’s unshakable faith in science. And destroy us all…
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A rollercoaster ride filled with terrifyingly PTSD moments!
There is a slow & somewhat technically detailed start, but stick with it. This methodical crawl pays off big. When the pace picks up it becomes fast & furiously action packed. Horrific gore, grotesque demon arrivals, unexpected situations and desperate life saving choices will keep the reader breathlessly engaged with each turn of the page.
I love unexplained acts of nature. Makes for such a chilling plot. When holes start appearing in the Arctic Circle , a team of experts is sent to investigate. Once they arrive, things get worse as more holes appear. And then something straight out of Hell crawls out. A horde of otherworldly creatures that have only one thing in mind. Killing mankind. With nowhere to run, the team seeks shelter in an old station. But the horde won’t be denied, and like an octopus with a sealed bottle full of yummy bait, they will find a way in.
I was almost rubbing my hands together in twisted anticipation before I started this one. Mysterious holes appearing. Something beyond imagining crawls out. The fate of mankind hangs in the balance. Oh yeah. I knew I had to read this book.
There’s a mixed bag of character’s. Ones you come to like and respect and some not so much. The author doesn’t seem to mind killing off either one. Keeps you on edge when things get down and dirty. Which doesn’t take long at all.
The story is strong and there’s a sub plot that makes things even more interesting. Also, the blend of science fiction and horror leaves the story wide open for the author to go in many different directions.
The ending. Well, it’s an end, but also a cliff hanger. That’s because this is really the beginning of something much bigger. I’ll be grabbing the next one immediately. Got a good feeling about this series.
The professor’s tale
Contrary to popular belief, the Devil did NOT go down to Georgia. Instead, Hell invaded Earth – in the Arctic. This is the account of that first incursion, as witnessed by Jack Oswald, PhD., a petroleum geologist and professor at U of Alaska Fairbanks. He and his team were among the first to explore and identify the true nature of this “epidemic” of sinkholes ringing the Arctic. Dr Oswald’s factually accurate account is a far cry from dry academic exposition; this honest, at times emotional, and very personal survivor’s story will imbed itself in the minds and hearts of readers everywhere. NOTE: This is voluntary and highly tongue-in-cheek review of Donald G. Firesmith’s novel of paranormal fiction, Hell Holes: What Lurks Below.
Jack, Mark and Jill are listening to Angie’s presentation when the phone rings. Jack answers the phone and finds the oil executive on the other end needs help. Jack had worked with Kevin before and figured the work would be quick. The four friends pack their bags and head to where Kevin is. When they get there, they find several huge holes in the ground. Jack wasn’t sure what they were or what caused them but was eager to investigate. What they find will change them forever.
Intense, engaging, action packed, terrifying and unique. These are just some of the words that come to mind while reading this book. It’s very well written and the characters are well defined. Mr. Firesmith takes you to a place you won’t recognize. He’s created a world we can’t even imagine. This book is a winner!
I found no issues.
I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because of the intensity of the story. copy of book provided by author and I voluntarily reviewed it.