The Disappearance of Tom Nero: Book Review

Howdy, dear reader!

I have another double review/interview combo for you this week!

Before that — Did you hear how my space horror tale, eyeofmoth.exe, is being featured as a part of a cryptid triple creature feature? That’s right! Coming June 1st, Confirmed Sightings, is one collection you don’t want to miss. Check it out here:

The Author

TJ Price's corporeal being is currently located in Raleigh, NC, with his handsome partner of many years, but his ghosts live in northeastern Connecticut, southern Maine, and north Brooklyn. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Nightmare Magazine, Pidgeonholes, The Bear Creek Gazette, The NoSleep Podcast, and various anthologies. He can be invoked at either tjpricewrites.com or via the blue bird @eerieyore. Failing that, one can make a circle of chalk on the floor, stand in the center, and burn a photograph of a loved one until all that remains is ashes. Then, listen for a murmuring from within the walls. Leave your message after the sound of the screb. — Price’s bio provided to me by the author himself

Find Price on his website or on Twitter.

The Book

The Disappearance of Tom Nero concerns a young man's investigation into the impossible disappearance of a friend. As he learns more about the circumstances and searches for answers, the re-emergence of a metatextual horror from legend puts not only him, but his new lover, in jeopardy.

The story explores themes of contagious and invasive thoughts, disappearances, as well as the relationship between reality and the written word. It is uniquely structured, with a variety of clues hidden in the text for the savvy reader-but beware, for the horror might not only affect the characters in the story...it may also affect the reader themselves. — description from Spooky House Press

Published through Spooky House Press and out May 16th, The Disappearance of Tom Nero is a metatextual horror novelette that follows the mysterious disappearance of Tom Nero, who has discovered the power of a strange s̴̳̻̏͛c̸̣̾ŗ̷̆̈ẻ̴̖̪͆b̷̲̑͌̕͜.

Is it madness or something supernatural? What kind of power can a word have?

The Review

Rich in eerie suspense and found footage glory, The Disappearance of Tom Nero is an addicting mystery wrapped in one-of-a-kind formatting. Told through found documents in varying formats, Price explores themes of intrusive thoughts, infectious discoveries, and the darkness that could be lying in wait in every corner.

I had such fun with this novelette! Price is a precise author, choosing his prose with care, to create an impactful tale that is unforgettable. I ended up reading this all in one sitting and am still thinking about it now.

If you haven’t read The House of Leaves and weren’t sure if you should, read The Disappearance of Tom Nero first. It’s way more approachable and will give you a good idea of HoL’s vibe. If you’re a fan of House of Leaves, then definitely read The Disappearance of Tom Nero.

As I mentioned just a bit ago, this novelette is told in the form of found documents, which makes it deliciously immersive. It takes a lot of skill to write this kind of tale in this way and Price aces it. Not only with the unique style, but also in his character development, and the way he waves in the insidious dread and influence of the s̴̳̻̏͛c̸̣̾ŗ̷̆̈ẻ̴̖̪͆b̷̲̑͌̕͜.

If you’re a fan of Blair Witch, House of Leaves, The Ring, you should definitely check this book out. It was a wild ride from start to finish!

10/10

x PLM

p.s. check back on Thursday for my PLM Talks with TJ Price!