THEY’RE BIGGERDeep in the sewers of New York City, the rat population is growing. Dr. Randolph Finch is determined to break the cycle. His new rodenticide, Degenesis, doesn’t kill rats. It sterilizes them from reproducing. But nothing adapts faster than a New York rat . . .THEY’RE SMARTERCity exterminators and soon-to-be divorced Chris and Benita Jackson think they know how these rats think. They … they know how these rats think. They know how rats breed. And they fear that Degenesis has only made these rats stronger. More aggressive. More intelligent. And more ravenous than ever . . .
TONIGHT’S DINNER SPECIAL: US
After a noticeable surge in rat den activity, the Jacksons witness something strange. Without warning, the rats disappear—only to reassemble in a massive lair beneath Grand Central Station. Millions upon millions of them. Working together. Operating as a hive mind. Feasting on the flesh of the homeless below—and planning their all-out attack on the unsuspecting humans above . . .
Raves for The Montauk Monster
“Old school horror.” —Jonathan Maberry
“A lot of splattery fun.”—Publishers Weekly
“Frightening, gripping.”—Night Owl Reviews
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I should start my review by saying I love Hunter Shea books. They are campy and funny a little silly and usually have a cliffhanger ending. This one is no exception killer rats make a lot of people very uncomfortable. Science gone bad what more could you ask for. I enjoyed it.
4 stars
Chris and Benita “Benny” Jackson are in the process of getting a divorce, but are partners in the extermination business. Their goal in this story is to eradicate the rat population by feeding them Degenesis. It’s a new invention by Dr. Randolph Finch. Benny and Chris’ nickname for him – behind his back, of course – is Ratticus Finch. It is supposed to work by sterilizing the rats.
The rats are very smart and adapt astoundingly quickly. The sad and surprising fact is that Degenesis doesn’t work. If anything, the rats are breeding faster, they’re meaner and they are beginning to attack humans – in a concerted and organized manner.
The rats are going mad. They attack a family in their apartment and Benny and Chris just manage to save two of the children trapped in the house. Dr. Finch and Chris go to an old abandoned building, another site where Degenesis was used, and escape, but barely. Dr. Finch can hardly believe what he sees.
Then all the rats disappear. Where did they go? An old exterminator named Marvin, Chris and Benny follow the rats to the Tombs. It is an area under Grand Central Station. Thousands upon thousands of rats are in there in a huge hollowed-out cavern they apparently dug themselves. There are also many homeless people, who are dead, of course.
With the aid of the army, Marvin, Benny, Chris and DR. Finch make an attempt to eradicate the rats under Grand Central by the means of poison gas and flamethrowers. Their attempt fails miserably. Many soldiers are swamped and killed. Neither the poison gas, nor the flamethrowers work.
What is humankind to do?
I absolutely love creature features, whether in print or in film. I’m always looking for something new and inventive. Although Hunter Shea’s novella Rattus New Yorkus is a theme that is certainly not new, he has a new twist on it. I really like that way he injects humor into his little horror books. It is well written and plotted and I truly enjoyed the story. Keep writing them, Mr. Shea. Your stories are delightful!
I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books/Lyrical Underground for forwarding to me a copy of this fun book to read and enjoy.
How much more fun could this book could be? The answer is none! None more fun!
I had to hold myself back from finishing this novella in just one sitting. I wanted to try to savor it, but it was too hard. A man and his soon to be ex-wife run an extermination company in Manhattan and are chosen to try out a new rat poison. After dispensing some healthy doses they thought their job was done, but it turns out the poison seems to have backfired, (isn’t that always the way?), and now there are more rats than ever. Not only are there more, but they’re more aggressive AND let’s just say they’re happier in their little rat bedrooms. Soon, they’ve taken over the sites where they were treated and many more sites as well. Can Manhattan escape this scourge of aggressive and horny rats? You’ll have to read this to find out!
RATTUS NEW YORKUS is flat out FUN! It doesn’t get bogged down in philosophical questions or literary mumbo-jumbo. We’re here for people killing rats and boy, do we get them!
I’ve been slow to come around to Hunter Shea and I’m not sure why, exactly. Maybe I was trying to fancy myself as more of a literary reader? Don’t get me wrong, I love literary horror, cosmic horror and all kinds of stuff, but lately? Creature features have been bringing it as far as I’m concerned, and Hunter Shea is up there with the best writers of them, EVER. I love me some James Herbert and Guy N. Smith, but Hunter? This is pure unadulterated fun and if you want some for yourself? Pick up RATTUS NEW YORKUS when it comes out. You won’t be disappointed!
This gets my highest recommendation!
*Thanks to Lyrical Underground and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
Book source ~ NetGalley
Chris and Benita Jackson have their own exterminating company and they’re one of several with a city contract. On a good day it’s hard to keep up with the rat population in New York City, but when they are ordered to use a new rodenticide named Degenesis, things are about to escalate and quickly.
If you have a phobia about rats DO NOT read this story. Because ewwwww! On the one hand I love the rat trivia I learned. On the other hand, the rats in this book? They are not your typical rat. They are disturbing on so many levels it’s not funny. This is a creature feature of horror and your cute little pet rat is not the star. No sirreebob. Go ahead. Pick it up by the wiry tail, if you dare.
New take on an old subject.
It’s never a dull moment with Hunter’s newest series and I wondered when he’d get around to rats. He wastes no time bringing on the horror.
Exterminators and divorced couple, Chris and Bonita, Benny for short, can’t help but notice the rats are acting peculiar. Normally aggressive when cornered, the rats are actually working together and attacking in packs. It soon becomes complete chaos as they multiply and swarm from the sewers to attack in the streets. The city isn’t prepared. How can anyone be. And it may be too late to stop them.
I always appreciate how this author can create three dimensional characters with so little words. I can picture them so easily with just a sentence or two. But, I know better than to get too attached. You never know who he’ll kill off.
Once the character’s are introduced and the plot is set in motion, it’s ooey gooey fun right to the bloody end. Another winner by Hunter Shea.
I just got my hands on the third book in Hunter’s One Size Eats All series, The Devil’s Fingers. The title gives me scary good vibes.