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Possessions
Chris Corin has the unshakable feeling that he's being followed. And he's right. But he doesn't know what's after him, what waits in the shadows. He doesn't know that what his late mother left him in her will is the source of inconceivable power. Power that something hideous wants very badly indeed. — By the time Chris realizes what's happening - and what's at stake - it may alread be too late. Who would believe him? Who could imagine the otherworldly forces that will stop at nothing to possess what Chris has? No, Chris will have to confront the darkness that has crept into his life, threatening his very sanity. And unless he can convince someone that he's not crazy, he'll have to confront it alone.
352 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2004
78 people want to read
About the author
James A. Moore
230 books766 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
James A. Moore was the award winning author of over forty novels, thrillers, dark fantasy and horror alike, including the critically acclaimed Fireworks, Under The Overtree, Blood Red, the Serenity Falls trilogy (featuring his recurring anti-hero, Jonathan Crowley) and his most recent novels, seven Forges, The Blasted Lands, City of Wonders , The Silent Army and the forthcoming The Gates of The Dead (Book Three in the Tides of War Series) and A Hell Within, co-authored with Charles R. Rutledge.
James A. Moore was the award winning author of over forty novels, thrillers, dark fantasy and horror alike, including the critically acclaimed Fireworks, Under The Overtree, Blood Red, the Serenity Falls trilogy (featuring his recurring anti-hero, Jonathan Crowley) and his most recent novels, seven Forges, The Blasted Lands, City of Wonders , The Silent Army and the forthcoming The Gates of The Dead (Book Three in the Tides of War Series) and A Hell Within, co-authored with Charles R. Rutledge.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 27, 2024
A totally OTT action fest by Moore, but one that grew a bit tiresome after a bit. Our lead, 18 yo Chris Corin, starts the novel off at his birthday party at a local restaurant. All his favorite people are there, including his mom and younger sister. The party breaks up, his mom leaves for work (graveyard shift) and Chris and his sister Brittany are heading home when the lotto numbers come on the radio; turns out he hit the jackpot! Life could not be better!
The next day, Chris and his best buddy Jerry confirm that yes, he did hit the jackpot and in a few months would be worth millions. Ecstatic, they head back to Chris' house only to find Brittany in tears. Turns out their mother crashed and burned on the way to work. Well, Chris and Brittany get through the next few horrible days, largely due to his buddy Jerry and his gal Katie. After the funeral, they get back home to find their mother's bedroom torn apart. WTF? Worse, Chris finds the guy still there in the closet and some fighting ensues. Then things start getting really, really weird.
Hard to review this without spoilers, but the pretty clearly something otherworldly is going on. The guy Chris finds in the bedroom morphs into some kind of creature before finally running away. He kept asking Chris to hand over the 'Western Key', but he has no idea whatsoever what the hell that is. The cops finally come and offer little help. .
I really liked the intro and Moore's quirky humor and 'down home' prose and sensibilities made for good reading. Once this got going, however, it turned into one non-stop fight. I cannot even count how many times Chris got hit or hit someone in running battles over half the city. I think Moore got so caught up in the action scenes he basically lost the plot. This could have been great, but sometimes you just need some plot and suspense to go with the non-stop action. 2.5 fighting stars, rounding up!
The next day, Chris and his best buddy Jerry confirm that yes, he did hit the jackpot and in a few months would be worth millions. Ecstatic, they head back to Chris' house only to find Brittany in tears. Turns out their mother crashed and burned on the way to work. Well, Chris and Brittany get through the next few horrible days, largely due to his buddy Jerry and his gal Katie. After the funeral, they get back home to find their mother's bedroom torn apart. WTF? Worse, Chris finds the guy still there in the closet and some fighting ensues. Then things start getting really, really weird.
Hard to review this without spoilers, but the pretty clearly something otherworldly is going on. The guy Chris finds in the bedroom morphs into some kind of creature before finally running away. He kept asking Chris to hand over the 'Western Key', but he has no idea whatsoever what the hell that is. The cops finally come and offer little help. .
I really liked the intro and Moore's quirky humor and 'down home' prose and sensibilities made for good reading. Once this got going, however, it turned into one non-stop fight. I cannot even count how many times Chris got hit or hit someone in running battles over half the city. I think Moore got so caught up in the action scenes he basically lost the plot. This could have been great, but sometimes you just need some plot and suspense to go with the non-stop action. 2.5 fighting stars, rounding up!
January 27, 2016
After browsing the other reviews, I see some gripes about not having everything spelled out. Sure, I wondered what Chris' moms role was with the key, and sure, I would have liked it explained, but you know what? This is a good book, and not everything has to be handed to me on a silver platter, explaining the whos, whys, and whats of the world. Yeah, not everything was explained in detail, but nothing major - this does not ruin a good book.
Minor plot holes aside, I found the plot to be original enough, well executed, some nice twist and turns in there, with no cheap plot ploys tossed into the batch. It was unpredictable - I NEVER saw the end result coming.
The characters were strong and smart, being a pleasure to read about. They complimented the story and took it in all directions full force. The pace is quick, starts off almost immediately, never letting up.
The atmosphere is rich with suspense, plenty of creepiness in there. Tension was thick, lots of action, drama, even minor budding romance cues.
With gripping suspense, enthralling events, sympathetic characters, an
admirable writing style and almost endless flow of sheer horror (while being fun) - "Possessions" is not a snack for a starving horror fan to miss!
Minor plot holes aside, I found the plot to be original enough, well executed, some nice twist and turns in there, with no cheap plot ploys tossed into the batch. It was unpredictable - I NEVER saw the end result coming.
The characters were strong and smart, being a pleasure to read about. They complimented the story and took it in all directions full force. The pace is quick, starts off almost immediately, never letting up.
The atmosphere is rich with suspense, plenty of creepiness in there. Tension was thick, lots of action, drama, even minor budding romance cues.
With gripping suspense, enthralling events, sympathetic characters, an
admirable writing style and almost endless flow of sheer horror (while being fun) - "Possessions" is not a snack for a starving horror fan to miss!
June 28, 2011
Ever since his debut novel, Under The Overtree, the work of James A. Moore seems to be getting worse. He started off very promising, but fell a notch with Fireworks and now fell even further with Possessions. Like Fireworks, his books start off promising but two thirds of the way in take a nose dive. Almost the last hundred pages of Possessions is nothing but a continuous fight scene involving monster after monster, with excessive descriptions on the creepy creatures. Yes, Mr. Moore, I understand they are very yucky things. I don't need a hundred pages describing them! I get it. With that said, Moore is quite talented at character development, but unfortunately those characters are left in a world that I've seen many times before. This was too close to the Body Snatcher films for me. The pace and tone of this book changed drastically in the last hundred pages and really pulled me out of the story. I enjoyed Under The Overtree, so I'll give James A. Moore another chance. But three strikes and you're out.
January 24, 2013
Did I ever tell you how much I loathe when authors are compared to the Almighty List? It seems that whenever a new author moves on the block people feel the need to bring up the prestigious to grab your attention and pull you into that familiar safety blanket that you’ve laid with more than once. Not me, oh no, I need a little variety in my life and after reading Mr. Moore’s latest, it seems he is just the man for the job. Here is an author with a fresh perspective, a little individuality and a lot more personality with a psychotic neurosis that would make Carl Panzram blush.
The plot, although not original, is pure unadulterated gluttony. Moore takes a little bit of such classics as: Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Alien, and The Thing and adds his own twist of terror to the mix with skill. The only problem with the story is it never truly explains the reasoning behind most of what occurs. For example, why did the mom have the necklace, who is their father and what’s the deal with the lottery ticket? With so many holes abound, it can make a reader feel drafty and miss that old blanket.
The pace in the story is a thrilling roller coaster ride. Starting out with what seems like a perfectly normal afternoon, the suspense begins to build and maneuvers throughout with subtlety and finesse. You actually never notice the tension building until you suddenly realize you’ve had your hand clenched the entire time and you now have half-moons on your palm. Moore’s style of writing is receptive, sardonic and laced with a lurking compassion. Right from the first page you realize that he isn’t writing for you and he’s not writing for the critics, he’s writing for himself and to see just how much he can get away with. Perfect!
The atmosphere in the book is filled with a sense of traumatic instability. The air becomes palpable and you can almost visualize the thin ice these characters tread on mentally and physically. The characters in the book are inviting, credible and at times, completely moronic. Reminding me of my own brother, Moore pulled off what so few have – sincerity. Capturing a photo-shot of adolescence, the author ingrains each mood, emotion and insane significance of what it’s like to be a teenager.
My rating? I give it a 4. Even with all the questions, this is still one of the most gratifying books I have ever read! Buy it new today!
-As reviewed for Horror-Web.com
The plot, although not original, is pure unadulterated gluttony. Moore takes a little bit of such classics as: Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Alien, and The Thing and adds his own twist of terror to the mix with skill. The only problem with the story is it never truly explains the reasoning behind most of what occurs. For example, why did the mom have the necklace, who is their father and what’s the deal with the lottery ticket? With so many holes abound, it can make a reader feel drafty and miss that old blanket.
The pace in the story is a thrilling roller coaster ride. Starting out with what seems like a perfectly normal afternoon, the suspense begins to build and maneuvers throughout with subtlety and finesse. You actually never notice the tension building until you suddenly realize you’ve had your hand clenched the entire time and you now have half-moons on your palm. Moore’s style of writing is receptive, sardonic and laced with a lurking compassion. Right from the first page you realize that he isn’t writing for you and he’s not writing for the critics, he’s writing for himself and to see just how much he can get away with. Perfect!
The atmosphere in the book is filled with a sense of traumatic instability. The air becomes palpable and you can almost visualize the thin ice these characters tread on mentally and physically. The characters in the book are inviting, credible and at times, completely moronic. Reminding me of my own brother, Moore pulled off what so few have – sincerity. Capturing a photo-shot of adolescence, the author ingrains each mood, emotion and insane significance of what it’s like to be a teenager.
My rating? I give it a 4. Even with all the questions, this is still one of the most gratifying books I have ever read! Buy it new today!
-As reviewed for Horror-Web.com
December 2, 2013
Chris Corin is an eighteen year old kid who loses his mom in a car accident caused by a creature that doesn’t exist in this world. The creature is trying to get a necklace that his mother has but wasn’t wearing that day. Chris’s sister Brittany takes possession of the necklace. Brittany and her boyfriend are abducted by the creatures, which leads him to going to a house to retrieve them, where he finds them coated in a gel-casing. Meanwhile, there is a ritual taking place that will allow the creatures entry into our world permanently, leading to the possibility of all hell breaking loose.
There is some good and some bad in this novel. James Moore sets up the action well. I also enjoyed his depiction of the creatures. The climactic scene is well-developed, but the ending of the novel and its climax leave a little to be desired. I also didn’t feel that this novel was overly horrific, certainly nothing too scary about it. All together this was a solid read but not spectacular.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street
There is some good and some bad in this novel. James Moore sets up the action well. I also enjoyed his depiction of the creatures. The climactic scene is well-developed, but the ending of the novel and its climax leave a little to be desired. I also didn’t feel that this novel was overly horrific, certainly nothing too scary about it. All together this was a solid read but not spectacular.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street
September 26, 2014
This is a hell of a great read. Plus, half of it is nonstop action, which is harrowing and wonderful. My only problem is the answer to the mystery. I loved the process of trying to figure out what was really happening, but when it was revealed about halfway through the book, I was kind of disappointed. I was hoping there would be more to it. Still, it's a lot of fun, and I recommend it.
November 12, 2010
Fast entertaining read.
March 4, 2008
James can write good books, this is just not one of them. Way too much detailed action, let Hollywood keep that...
April 17, 2019
James Moore is a phenomenal author with some amazing books under his belt. POSSESSIONS, unfortunately, isn't his strongest effort. It's not that this is a bad book, it's just not one of his best. The tale of a young man who discovers some creatures are taking over people in his community, a la INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS by way of H.P. Lovecraft, is an interesting concept with great potential which, sadly, Moore doesn't fully dive into here.
The book is fast-paced with lots of action and likable characters, but a lot of the storyline feels like it needs more meat and there are ares which aren't even explained.
POSSESSIONS serves best as an example of an author who is slowly starting to grow into his talent. Moore's great dialogue is here, well-crafted characters are scattered throughout the novel, and his ability to paint true depictions of humanity and the toils of life are here. However, the book seems to be missing a soul.
There are better Moore books out there demanding a reader's attention, but POSSESSIONS will pass the test if you're in need of a quick read.
The book is fast-paced with lots of action and likable characters, but a lot of the storyline feels like it needs more meat and there are ares which aren't even explained.
POSSESSIONS serves best as an example of an author who is slowly starting to grow into his talent. Moore's great dialogue is here, well-crafted characters are scattered throughout the novel, and his ability to paint true depictions of humanity and the toils of life are here. However, the book seems to be missing a soul.
There are better Moore books out there demanding a reader's attention, but POSSESSIONS will pass the test if you're in need of a quick read.
April 15, 2018
Not having read any of Moore’s books, but being a fan of the podcast, “Three Guys With Beards,” which he co-hosts with authors Christopher Golden and Jonathan Maberry, I was predisposed to expecting a fun, enjoyable read. My expectations were misplaced.
This book was a chore to read, with no logical plot development, and the worst writing you’ll find this side of a beginning novelists’ critique forum. It was so amateurish, I was sure this must be an early, immature work of his, put out by an undiscriminating publisher, Kensington, under their Leisure Horror imprint. It turns out, upon reading the author’s back cover bio, that this book comes 13 years into his writing career.
Starting with a MacGuffin, then introducing shape-shifting freakies, and moving on to Body Snatcher pods, the author throws all sorts of madness and mayhem at you, all with no explanation, or logical plot progression. When a character witnesses a rift opening between worlds, how does he know that’s what it is? Because he has seen that type of thing in the movies. (insert face-palm emoji)
Here’s an example of characterization. We’re near the end of the story, all hell is breaking loose, a 3-story house is on fire, ugly tentacled creatures are grabbing at our heroes, and an explosion in the house has sent a large piece of wooden shrapnel hurling toward one of the female characters, Brittany. Another female character, Katie, sees the impending danger to the oblivious Brittany, and pounces on her, shielding Brittany’s body with her own, giving rise to the most asinine WTF thought from Brittany:
Katie was all over her, her arms and legs spreading out like a blanket, and for half a second her mind flashed to whether or not Jerry’s girlfriend had suddenly gone lesbian on her.
And that is, actually, not the worst of it. Someone needs to put a shock collar around Moore’s neck and press the button every time they catch him typing the word “actually.” He used it so many times, that, starting at page 145, I kept a tally. Over the next 59 pages, he used that word no less than 15 times. That’s an average of once every four pages (twice, actually, on page 152).
With the underdeveloped plot and the atrocious writing, this book reads like a first draft. There's probably a decent story in there, somewhere, but the manuscript is in need of a couple of rewrites and considerable editing.
This book was a chore to read, with no logical plot development, and the worst writing you’ll find this side of a beginning novelists’ critique forum. It was so amateurish, I was sure this must be an early, immature work of his, put out by an undiscriminating publisher, Kensington, under their Leisure Horror imprint. It turns out, upon reading the author’s back cover bio, that this book comes 13 years into his writing career.
Starting with a MacGuffin, then introducing shape-shifting freakies, and moving on to Body Snatcher pods, the author throws all sorts of madness and mayhem at you, all with no explanation, or logical plot progression. When a character witnesses a rift opening between worlds, how does he know that’s what it is? Because he has seen that type of thing in the movies. (insert face-palm emoji)
Here’s an example of characterization. We’re near the end of the story, all hell is breaking loose, a 3-story house is on fire, ugly tentacled creatures are grabbing at our heroes, and an explosion in the house has sent a large piece of wooden shrapnel hurling toward one of the female characters, Brittany. Another female character, Katie, sees the impending danger to the oblivious Brittany, and pounces on her, shielding Brittany’s body with her own, giving rise to the most asinine WTF thought from Brittany:
Katie was all over her, her arms and legs spreading out like a blanket, and for half a second her mind flashed to whether or not Jerry’s girlfriend had suddenly gone lesbian on her.
And that is, actually, not the worst of it. Someone needs to put a shock collar around Moore’s neck and press the button every time they catch him typing the word “actually.” He used it so many times, that, starting at page 145, I kept a tally. Over the next 59 pages, he used that word no less than 15 times. That’s an average of once every four pages (twice, actually, on page 152).
With the underdeveloped plot and the atrocious writing, this book reads like a first draft. There's probably a decent story in there, somewhere, but the manuscript is in need of a couple of rewrites and considerable editing.
January 27, 2011
I don't like to write bad reviews. But I have to say that this book just wasn't an enjoyable one for me....:( At times I found it was a bit cheesy. I finished reading it because it was part of a challenge that I am doing (and I was secretly hoping it would be get better). By about page 210 it started to look up because it starts the final fight scene, unfortunately the fight scene was 100+ pages and I lost interest in it rather quickly.
Chris has just lost his mother and won the lottery. Now all of a sudden he is thrust into a battle over the "western key." His little sister is is going through a tough time after losing her mother and now is running off constantly. His best friend Jerry tries to help out the best he can but ends up being caught by the demons and Katie (Jerry's girlfriend) is the mother hen to everyone. Chris also has several flashbacks that don't flow with the book and are very confusing at times. Personally, the characters did not feel very well developed.
Like I said, this book wasn't for me. I am still confused exactly what this book is about. It is called Possessions yet there is no possessing going on. Instead the humans they are imitating are kept in heart shaped pods in the basement of a house. When I finished the book I was just confused and disappointed.
Chris has just lost his mother and won the lottery. Now all of a sudden he is thrust into a battle over the "western key." His little sister is is going through a tough time after losing her mother and now is running off constantly. His best friend Jerry tries to help out the best he can but ends up being caught by the demons and Katie (Jerry's girlfriend) is the mother hen to everyone. Chris also has several flashbacks that don't flow with the book and are very confusing at times. Personally, the characters did not feel very well developed.
Like I said, this book wasn't for me. I am still confused exactly what this book is about. It is called Possessions yet there is no possessing going on. Instead the humans they are imitating are kept in heart shaped pods in the basement of a house. When I finished the book I was just confused and disappointed.
February 11, 2025
Begins intensely hooking you almost right off the bat , where as the way the book played out - ESPECIALLY with the ending which is highly anticipated (as you’re waiting to find out the reason behind the characters actions) , was a big let down. Stay away from this read /-:
April 24, 2017
Nicely creepy - sometimes a bit tough to follow, but overall a decent read
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews