Published by Penguin on August 27, 2013
Genres: Adult, Horror, Thriller
Pages: 288
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher, TLC Tours
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Goodreads
No one is coming to your aid. We have ensured this.
Six strangers wake up on a remote island in the Florida Keys with no memory of their arrival. They soon discover their common bond: all of them are heroin addicts. As the first excruciating pangs of withdrawal make themselves felt, the six notice a yacht anchored across open water. On it lurk four shadowy figures, protected by the hungry sharks that patrol the waves. So begins a dangerous game. The six must undertake the impossible—swim to the next island where a cache of heroin awaits, or die trying. When alliances form, betrayal is inevitable. As the fight to survive intensifies, the stakes reach terrifying heights—and their captors’ motives finally begin to emerge.
My Thoughts:
Four men and two women wake up on a deserted island in the Florida Keys. It doesn’t take long for them to find the common thread that they all have: an addiction to heroin that rules their lives. Off the coast on board a boat, their sadistic kidnappers observe them, waiting for the game to start and placing their bets. Facing gut-wrenching withdrawal symptoms, all these strangers can piece together is what they find in a letter inside a chest with some food and water–orders to swim to the next island where the promise of the purest heroin they’ve ever had will be their reward.
As they grow sicker, tempers flare, fists are thrown, obscenities are screamed, alliances are formed. Soon they have no choice but to listen to the demons inside their head. Swimming for the other island sounds like a plausible idea. Little do they know that the waters are full of sharks that have a taste for humans thanks to their kidnappers, so they circle the island, waiting for the first body to enter the water…
Bait is a gritty, fast-paced horror novel. The first part of the book allows you to get to know these unfortunate souls in alternating chapters of their time on the island and the few days leading up to their abduction. Their lives aren’t pretty, and addiction isn’t a comfortable thing to read about. Messum does a great job of portraying these things in a realistic way without being too cliche or outlandish. It simply is what it is: criminal, dirty, desperate, and oftentimes hopeless.
This isn’t simply a story about bad versus good, not when the protagonists have done a decent amount of bad things in their addicted lives. Bait is shades of grey and black, a social commentary on good people done wrong and turning against the establishment in the worst way possible. Who is worthy of redemption, and who actually has a chance to make it out alive?
I give Bait a four out of five. Great character development with excellent pacing and tone. The amount of violence and gore is appropriate for this type of book because essentially it’s a shark attack book when it comes down aspects of it, so it may not be for everyone, but I loved the raw viscerals and grittiness. This is one book that is pretty true to life, and that makes it so much more of an emotionally intense read. I can’t wait to see what J. Kent Messum writes next, and hopefully it’s a bit longer because this book flew by in no time at all.
Enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win one of three copies of Bait, courtesy of TLC Book Tours and Penguin.
Check out the other TLC tour stops for Bait here.
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Seriously? That’s one CRAY-CRAY premise! But it sounds like it works…but it still sounds bonkers! Can you imagine the thoughts that were going through this author’s head when he (?) first thought of it? Oh, hey. Island. Keys. Kidnapped people. NO! Let’s make ’em heroine addicts surrounded by sharks and they’ve got to risk it all to get their fix! It’ll be FAB! *snort* Love it.
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I know, Mary! But this premise totally works. This book was so good, and I like the dark, gritty, visceral horror novels, so this was perfect for me. I was surprised which one survived in the end. I was rooting for the other one! I think this book hits home a little more because of my career, but it is definitely one of my favorite books so far this year.
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ooh! This is a new book for me and it looks crazy! Spooky and just the right amount of messed up. (if that even makes sense) haha I think I would really enjoy this book.
Awesome review!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
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This book is the right kind of messed up, Michelle. I know exactly what you mean! Check it out.
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Finally, a gritty and emotionally intense horror/thriller story! YES! Sign me up, please! 😀 Fantastic review, sweetie! 🙂 You definitely got me all excited for this read, I’ve been on a lookout for something scary and powerful and this book here sounds delicious 😀 Something I could add to my October Halloween reading list for sure!
Thanks for sharing!:)
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I think you would really like this book. It’s the perfect bridge between summer and fall. I certainly wouldn’t want to read it on the beach 😉
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This book sounds so much like Lord of the Flies. Lord of the Flies did leave me with an ugly feeling inside.
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It’s been so long since high school for me, I can’t remember of I read Lord of the Flies or not. Hmm, I’ll have to look that up…
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Wow, this sounds intense, and I love how dark it sounds. Wonderful review, this would make a great fall read. Wonderful review Heather 🙂
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This was really dark and intense, Kimba! Very gritty and tension packed in the last half too. It’s a great read.
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I have a thing for books based on deserted islands. I saw this at Costco today and almost brought it home with me because it sounds so intriguing. Thanks for the awesome review and giveaway!
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Hopefully you entered our giveaway since you didn’t buy a copy of this fantastic book, Chrystal! If you like the whole deserted islands thing, then you will probably enjoy this one.
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I’m glad that you enjoyed this one – it sounds like a book that will be a real hit for the right reader!
Thanks for being on the tour.
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You’re welcome! Thanks to Lisa for asking me.
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