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Alex
Alternate cover edition for ASIN B006FA7Z8E
An empty house. A bereaved father. Alone with his loss, Ian Colmes has driven away everyone he loves. But when he begins to see his dead son again, is it because the boy is reaching out from beyond? Or has Ian's anguish finally given way to dementia?
With a masterful hand, suspense newcomer Adam J Nicolai paints a picture of grief, madness, and the furious strength of a father's love for his son.
An empty house. A bereaved father. Alone with his loss, Ian Colmes has driven away everyone he loves. But when he begins to see his dead son again, is it because the boy is reaching out from beyond? Or has Ian's anguish finally given way to dementia?
With a masterful hand, suspense newcomer Adam J Nicolai paints a picture of grief, madness, and the furious strength of a father's love for his son.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
506 people are currently reading
2225 people want to read
About the author
Adam J. Nicolai
7 books100 followersAdam J Nicolai lives near Minneapolis, MN with his wife, Joy, and their two children, Isaac and Rydia. He is a life-long nerd, game lover, author, Star Wars fan, Dungeon Master, and amateur game designer, as well as a former project manager and policy debate coach.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 371 reviews
September 11, 2016
A death of a loved one is hard enough when they are old, but when its a 5 year old son Alex Colmes its just too much to handle for Aline & Ian. They are struggling with how their son died he was kidnapped, raped & had a bullet in his head.
Ian is seeing Alex all over the house he has kept his favourite toys & the room has never been touched BUT WHY HAS ALEX RETURNED!! Ian & Aline decide to see a therapist but it does not last long as Ian is immersed with guilt as he could not save him from his killers he will stop at nothing to avenge his sons death.
Paranoia sets in to his head & he & Aline Separate as Ian blames her for Alex's death what happens from here on is a series of events that keep you enthralled from beginning to end, it also shows Ian's love for his son is everlasting & the bond will not be broken.
I really enjoyed this book was fast paced but we learn about the protagonist early on which was a bit disappointing but the thrill as to whether Ian would get them kept me in right from the get go.
I think the combination of horror/ thriller worked for Mr Nicolai.
Ian is seeing Alex all over the house he has kept his favourite toys & the room has never been touched BUT WHY HAS ALEX RETURNED!! Ian & Aline decide to see a therapist but it does not last long as Ian is immersed with guilt as he could not save him from his killers he will stop at nothing to avenge his sons death.
Paranoia sets in to his head & he & Aline Separate as Ian blames her for Alex's death what happens from here on is a series of events that keep you enthralled from beginning to end, it also shows Ian's love for his son is everlasting & the bond will not be broken.
I really enjoyed this book was fast paced but we learn about the protagonist early on which was a bit disappointing but the thrill as to whether Ian would get them kept me in right from the get go.
I think the combination of horror/ thriller worked for Mr Nicolai.
August 24, 2012
I found myself skipping nearly entire chapters trying to get to the end of this story to see if it was going to end the way I thought it would (it did). The middle 50% was essentially the same scene over and over, and I just found it dull and unnecessarily long.
I found the author's "voice" annoying - maybe best described as a lack of maturity? At any rate, I was rolling my eyes through the entire dinner scene with his mother. (Minor spoiler ahead!) It felt petulant and made no logical sense. I would guess most atheists, as our hero describes himself, would not *also* buy Ouija boards to talk to potential ghosts.
One last beef - I was distracted by the constant references to online gaming, shopping at Best Buy and Cub Foods - it drove me nuts and pulled me out of the story every time he did it. I felt the writing was tighter (and better) in the last 25% of the book. Overall, it felt like a NaNoWriMo attempt that needed to be heavily edited and shortened.
I found the author's "voice" annoying - maybe best described as a lack of maturity? At any rate, I was rolling my eyes through the entire dinner scene with his mother. (Minor spoiler ahead!) It felt petulant and made no logical sense. I would guess most atheists, as our hero describes himself, would not *also* buy Ouija boards to talk to potential ghosts.
One last beef - I was distracted by the constant references to online gaming, shopping at Best Buy and Cub Foods - it drove me nuts and pulled me out of the story every time he did it. I felt the writing was tighter (and better) in the last 25% of the book. Overall, it felt like a NaNoWriMo attempt that needed to be heavily edited and shortened.
December 18, 2025
Guilt, anger, grief, death, and haunting all come together in this sad tale. It does feel like there is a bit of extra stuff in the middle. That the message could and did come across in less pages then writer used.
Still a good book in how grief and guilt can affect different people and how far you will go to try and "fix" that.
Still a good book in how grief and guilt can affect different people and how far you will go to try and "fix" that.
December 17, 2015
5 Stars+
What a powerful impact this book possesses! From the first sentence, I found myself wrapped in a smooth prose flow, and before I knew it, I was stunned and captivated. I did not want any distractions while I read! Mr. Nicolai is a very accomplished author, enticing the readers and carrying us along throughout the story. I truly felt an observer, watching over the protagonist’s shoulder, a witness, but also a participant, experiencing his grief, his sadness, his delight, his joy, and his terror. That is a rare experience, and requires writing ability that is not all that common. I’ve determined to reread this novel again, maybe more than once.
Ian and Alina Colmes lived a peaceful and placid life, interspersed with moments of joy, until the disappearance of their five-year-old son, Alex. Apparently abducted while at a day care provider, the worst imaginable occurred and Alex’s corpse was later located. But for Ian, Alex has never really gone away. He refuses to seek counseling, his wife has moved out, and his job is endangered because he cannot focus on it. Worse yet, after six months Ian begins to both see and hear Alex, not just echoes of memory, not just corner-of-the-eye glimpses, but incidents that are nearly interactive: Alex acts, speaks, emotes-and it doesn’t just occur at home, in Alex’s room, either. Something is definitely happening, and the question is whether Ian is suffering a breakdown-or Alex is actually returning-and as Ian is the only one experiencing sightings, he has no one to ask “What’s going on here?”
Occasionally I find a book that leaves me speechless, hunting for the right descriptive words, and that makes me wish I could give more than 5 Stars. “Alex” by Adam J. Nicolai is just such a book.
What a powerful impact this book possesses! From the first sentence, I found myself wrapped in a smooth prose flow, and before I knew it, I was stunned and captivated. I did not want any distractions while I read! Mr. Nicolai is a very accomplished author, enticing the readers and carrying us along throughout the story. I truly felt an observer, watching over the protagonist’s shoulder, a witness, but also a participant, experiencing his grief, his sadness, his delight, his joy, and his terror. That is a rare experience, and requires writing ability that is not all that common. I’ve determined to reread this novel again, maybe more than once.
Ian and Alina Colmes lived a peaceful and placid life, interspersed with moments of joy, until the disappearance of their five-year-old son, Alex. Apparently abducted while at a day care provider, the worst imaginable occurred and Alex’s corpse was later located. But for Ian, Alex has never really gone away. He refuses to seek counseling, his wife has moved out, and his job is endangered because he cannot focus on it. Worse yet, after six months Ian begins to both see and hear Alex, not just echoes of memory, not just corner-of-the-eye glimpses, but incidents that are nearly interactive: Alex acts, speaks, emotes-and it doesn’t just occur at home, in Alex’s room, either. Something is definitely happening, and the question is whether Ian is suffering a breakdown-or Alex is actually returning-and as Ian is the only one experiencing sightings, he has no one to ask “What’s going on here?”
Occasionally I find a book that leaves me speechless, hunting for the right descriptive words, and that makes me wish I could give more than 5 Stars. “Alex” by Adam J. Nicolai is just such a book.
July 24, 2012
This was a curious read for me. The story is fairly simplistic and covers well-trodden ground: a father grieving over the murder of his young son Alex starts seeing his ghost again. And again. And again. Again. Again.
Again.
This read a bit like a repeat day with minor changes in Bill Murray's Groundhog Day, although I was unsure if this was intentional or not. Due to the strength of these scenes, which are all written in a staccato style--fast, shorter paragraphs and emotionally-charged--I forged ahead hoping that something clever would happen. Alas, the story didn't capitalize on these dramatic, yet barely altered scenes (father wakes up, goes to work late, has run-in with boss, stresses over his relationship trouble with his wife, stays up playing video games and sees his ghost son trying to tell him something, wash, rinse, repeat). It isn't until the last quarter of the book that the plot moves forward. The ending didn't provide a new, fresh spin as hoped for but does ties up most everything.
For the most part, as mentioned above, the writing within each scene is good. The pacing was almost lethargic at times, but the father's grief strongly connects with the reader. Some dialogue threw me out of the story like this: "Maybe I'm not changing," he said. "Maybe I'm changing back." I knew what the character meant but this didn't sound like something anybody would ever say in that situation, much less the character speaking.
Characterization. The father's pain is what kept me reading. Being a father myself, I sympathized with his situation and hoped things would improve for him. Each scene rings out his emotion to the reader displaying the writer's talent. I didn't get much of a sense for the wife, Alina, other than her being a distraught mother and wife. She seemed a bit cardboard. The videogame playing friend was also just kind of there to be a shoulder, not really having much else to do with the plot. There were also various MMORPG game terms that might throw non-gamers (raid, tank, etc). I hoped the boss/employer substory might go somewhere, but in retrospect that was barely relevant.
I went to the Amazon listing to see how this book was categorized. Some tagged it as horror (it's not), some tagged as a thriller (no), I guess suspense is sort of fitting, although there isn't much of that until the end. Maybe a psychological mystery ghost tale? I was disappointed by the length. At about half the words this story would have worked better for me, and if something had been done with the many similar scenes in the first half of the book. I think the writer was onto something really cool stylistically, but it just didn't come together. I wouldn't recommended for horror, thriller or suspense readers. Drama readers or parents going through bereavement for loss of a child might find some common ground.
Again.
This read a bit like a repeat day with minor changes in Bill Murray's Groundhog Day, although I was unsure if this was intentional or not. Due to the strength of these scenes, which are all written in a staccato style--fast, shorter paragraphs and emotionally-charged--I forged ahead hoping that something clever would happen. Alas, the story didn't capitalize on these dramatic, yet barely altered scenes (father wakes up, goes to work late, has run-in with boss, stresses over his relationship trouble with his wife, stays up playing video games and sees his ghost son trying to tell him something, wash, rinse, repeat). It isn't until the last quarter of the book that the plot moves forward. The ending didn't provide a new, fresh spin as hoped for but does ties up most everything.
For the most part, as mentioned above, the writing within each scene is good. The pacing was almost lethargic at times, but the father's grief strongly connects with the reader. Some dialogue threw me out of the story like this: "Maybe I'm not changing," he said. "Maybe I'm changing back." I knew what the character meant but this didn't sound like something anybody would ever say in that situation, much less the character speaking.
Characterization. The father's pain is what kept me reading. Being a father myself, I sympathized with his situation and hoped things would improve for him. Each scene rings out his emotion to the reader displaying the writer's talent. I didn't get much of a sense for the wife, Alina, other than her being a distraught mother and wife. She seemed a bit cardboard. The videogame playing friend was also just kind of there to be a shoulder, not really having much else to do with the plot. There were also various MMORPG game terms that might throw non-gamers (raid, tank, etc). I hoped the boss/employer substory might go somewhere, but in retrospect that was barely relevant.
I went to the Amazon listing to see how this book was categorized. Some tagged it as horror (it's not), some tagged as a thriller (no), I guess suspense is sort of fitting, although there isn't much of that until the end. Maybe a psychological mystery ghost tale? I was disappointed by the length. At about half the words this story would have worked better for me, and if something had been done with the many similar scenes in the first half of the book. I think the writer was onto something really cool stylistically, but it just didn't come together. I wouldn't recommended for horror, thriller or suspense readers. Drama readers or parents going through bereavement for loss of a child might find some common ground.
July 26, 2016
Ian’s dead 5 year old son has been talking to him. He is either going nuts or his son is trying to tell him something. Maybe both. As the frequency and intensity of the visits from Alex grow stronger, Ian starts to lose his grip on reality.
This has been sitting on my tbr forever. I figured I was never going to read it so decided to pick up the audio. Glad I did. Adam writes a very good debut novel and the narrator did a fantastic job of breathing life into the main character. Maybe a wee long winded and repetitive in spots, it was nonetheless an engaging tale of loss, love, redemption and justice. Solid first effort.
This has been sitting on my tbr forever. I figured I was never going to read it so decided to pick up the audio. Glad I did. Adam writes a very good debut novel and the narrator did a fantastic job of breathing life into the main character. Maybe a wee long winded and repetitive in spots, it was nonetheless an engaging tale of loss, love, redemption and justice. Solid first effort.
April 25, 2013
*Warning slight spoilers*
This was a emotionally hard book for me. I don't do well with books that involve children being hurt or dying. I still read them even if I know I'll have an ache in my heart.
Ian has lost his child, his wife has moved out, his work is suffering and now it seems he is on the verge of losing his mind.
Or is he??
His son was kidnapped and murdered, and while it seems like the world can pick up the pieces and try to move forward Ian can't, not yet.
Ian has a battle going on in his head, one side is telling him, he is crazy and that it is just his grief projecting Alex around. The little bits of conversations being ones that had taken place when he was alive.
Then there is that other side that arguing what if he really is there? What if Alex is coming back for a reason? And if so what for?
Wow what a book. Are we seeing the mental breakdown of a man? or Are we witnessing a soul who can't rest until the truth is set free?
Raw, heartbreaking, disturbing.
I am so grateful for the the few lighter moments that take place, the mention of Star Trek watching, the raiding (Still want to know his tank class and raid was). Something to make me laugh a little and relax.
Adam J. Nicolai is an author to watch for, with a debut self-published novel as gripping as this was I can see nothing but great things for his future.
This was a emotionally hard book for me. I don't do well with books that involve children being hurt or dying. I still read them even if I know I'll have an ache in my heart.
Ian has lost his child, his wife has moved out, his work is suffering and now it seems he is on the verge of losing his mind.
Or is he??
His son was kidnapped and murdered, and while it seems like the world can pick up the pieces and try to move forward Ian can't, not yet.
Ian has a battle going on in his head, one side is telling him, he is crazy and that it is just his grief projecting Alex around. The little bits of conversations being ones that had taken place when he was alive.
Then there is that other side that arguing what if he really is there? What if Alex is coming back for a reason? And if so what for?
Wow what a book. Are we seeing the mental breakdown of a man? or Are we witnessing a soul who can't rest until the truth is set free?
Raw, heartbreaking, disturbing.
I am so grateful for the the few lighter moments that take place, the mention of Star Trek watching, the raiding (Still want to know his tank class and raid was). Something to make me laugh a little and relax.
Adam J. Nicolai is an author to watch for, with a debut self-published novel as gripping as this was I can see nothing but great things for his future.
October 31, 2012
This book is by far my favorite book that I have read this year. Alex is the first book written by Nicolai and I have to say that I can't wait to see what else he writes. I finished this book rather quickly...actaully I had trouble putting it down. I was in the process of reading on my flight to Florida and was a little annoyed when I had to turn off my kindle when the plane landed.
I think this book continued to draw me in because it revolved around the love a father has for his son. Alex is a five year old when he is kidnapped and murdered. He then returns to haunt his father in a way that is both chilling and satisfying. Ian, his father, is trying to figure out why Alex has returned. Through ups and downs and near death experiences everything is resolved in the end.
I think this book continued to draw me in because it revolved around the love a father has for his son. Alex is a five year old when he is kidnapped and murdered. He then returns to haunt his father in a way that is both chilling and satisfying. Ian, his father, is trying to figure out why Alex has returned. Through ups and downs and near death experiences everything is resolved in the end.
March 8, 2012
A very good read. Not an easy read, by any means, but very powerful. I found myself staying up late to read just a bit more each night. I would NOT recommend this to anyone under 18, as there are some horrific scenes in it. And parents, especially parents of very young children, should proceed with caution, because this book may just make you want to lock up your child and never let them out of your sight. The ending is hopeful, but getting there is harrowing.
August 15, 2018
Alex is both one of the best books I've read this year and one of the most upsetting because of the story line. The author's writing just pulls you along though and you are very willing to go along for the ride. His descriptions of Ian's grief and guilt are so heartwrenching your own heart will break for him.
This is Adam Nicolai's first book and I am already looking forward to his next.
This is Adam Nicolai's first book and I am already looking forward to his next.
September 15, 2015
Surprisingly good. Though some of the scenes with Alex were difficult to listen to. Especially since I have a 5 year old of my own.
October 24, 2017
This book is fantastic but very hard to read. This book is very hard to read, but oh it is so good.
You try to decide throughout the book if the father is just crazy or if his dead son is trying to reach out to him.
Such a good spooky read.
Full review to come via The Cubicle Escapee.
You try to decide throughout the book if the father is just crazy or if his dead son is trying to reach out to him.
Such a good spooky read.
Full review to come via The Cubicle Escapee.
May 24, 2012
I read this book in two sittings within about 12 hours of each other. This is rare for me. Most books I like to put down after 20 or 30 pages, but I was compelled to keep reading this one in a way that seldom happens for me. Although it was gripping and a fast read, it was really hard to read, too: the first third or so was just so heart-wrenching, and then Ian (the main character) started doing crazy things, which was a bit uncomfortable to read at times. This isn't a criticism, though, because I take it that's what the author was going for. I'm not a parent myself, but the way Ian's reaction to losing his son was described hit me hard. That said, sometimes Ian's reactions seemed a little over-the-top in the jerkish direction, but in the end you will care about him nonetheless.
My favorite theme of the book was what I would call "Really Crazy vs. Real Haunting?" This stuff was awesome. As a real-life curmudgeonly skeptic about ghosts and anything paranormal, I have to admit I found myself rooting for "Really Crazy" the whole time. I actually think the whole book is compatible with my interpretation, although I imagine many readers will think "Real Haunting" won out in the end. I'm not sure about the author's intentions were, and that makes this a good novel. You'll have to decide for yourself!
This was a great, memorable book. It took me awhile to recover from its emotional thrashing, but it was all worth it for compelling characters, plot twists, and the intellectual fun of playing with multiple interpretations of what's going on. Highly recommended!
My favorite theme of the book was what I would call "Really Crazy vs. Real Haunting?" This stuff was awesome. As a real-life curmudgeonly skeptic about ghosts and anything paranormal, I have to admit I found myself rooting for "Really Crazy" the whole time. I actually think the whole book is compatible with my interpretation, although I imagine many readers will think "Real Haunting" won out in the end. I'm not sure about the author's intentions were, and that makes this a good novel. You'll have to decide for yourself!
This was a great, memorable book. It took me awhile to recover from its emotional thrashing, but it was all worth it for compelling characters, plot twists, and the intellectual fun of playing with multiple interpretations of what's going on. Highly recommended!
August 27, 2012
It's a well-known fact that you should never judge a book by its cover. However, 'Alex' by Adam J Nicolai first came to my attention because of the striking image on the front. The toy elephant staring out of the black appears not to have any connection with the book at all but it becomes apparent later on in the novel.
The book is about a father grieving for his dead son. His relationship is failing and his job is in jeopardy as his whole life becomes consumed with appearances of his son and his son's killer. The book is extremely well-written. The writing is intense, urgent, striking and induces a state of anxiety in the reader. This study of grief is compelling to read and right till the very end we are not sure what is real and what is not. Is the father seeing his son's ghost or just imagining everything?
The chapters are short lending the book that 'I'll just read one more chapter' quality. As well as a complex portrait of a grieving father, this book is a thriller and a real page-turner. I found myself picking up the book wanting to find out what comes next but also dreading it, such is the uncomfortable intensity of the atmosphere created. The ending is satisfactory and the reader feels as though they have been on a real journey with the father.
I don't hesitate to recommend 'Alex' and I look forward to more from this author. 5/5
The book is about a father grieving for his dead son. His relationship is failing and his job is in jeopardy as his whole life becomes consumed with appearances of his son and his son's killer. The book is extremely well-written. The writing is intense, urgent, striking and induces a state of anxiety in the reader. This study of grief is compelling to read and right till the very end we are not sure what is real and what is not. Is the father seeing his son's ghost or just imagining everything?
The chapters are short lending the book that 'I'll just read one more chapter' quality. As well as a complex portrait of a grieving father, this book is a thriller and a real page-turner. I found myself picking up the book wanting to find out what comes next but also dreading it, such is the uncomfortable intensity of the atmosphere created. The ending is satisfactory and the reader feels as though they have been on a real journey with the father.
I don't hesitate to recommend 'Alex' and I look forward to more from this author. 5/5
October 17, 2024
We know from the beginning of this book that five year old Alex was kidnapped and later murdered. We know who did it as well, because he died during the same event. Six months later Alex's parents are separated and his father, Ian Colmes, is still living in the family home. Ian grieves for his son constantly, but suddenly he's started hallucinating that Alex is in the house with him. He can't sleep, he's in danger of losing his job, and he wonders if he's going mad. The book primarily focuses on how Ian is coping with the Alex appearances. Not only does he see Alex, he engages in conversations with him too. Ian wonders if he is somehow to blame for Alex's death and that's why Alex has returned to torment him.
This was a F2F book club selection for October where our theme was "Horror". It was one of those stories I thought twice about reading. I hate books that deal with dead children. It's just too painful a subject for most people, especially parents. I thought portions of the book dragged on too long with quite a bit of repetition in the hallucinations. However, I was hooked from the beginning and read this book straight through in one sitting. I was never sure if Ian was crazy or how it would end. The author did a great job of portraying Ian's feelings of failure and loss, with a satisfying and surprising ending I never saw coming.
This was a F2F book club selection for October where our theme was "Horror". It was one of those stories I thought twice about reading. I hate books that deal with dead children. It's just too painful a subject for most people, especially parents. I thought portions of the book dragged on too long with quite a bit of repetition in the hallucinations. However, I was hooked from the beginning and read this book straight through in one sitting. I was never sure if Ian was crazy or how it would end. The author did a great job of portraying Ian's feelings of failure and loss, with a satisfying and surprising ending I never saw coming.
January 8, 2012
Alex is an emotionally intense and satisfying thriller. I could really feel the pain and confusion that Ian was feeling throughout the book. For me it almost bordered on being too much, but the intensity gives the end even more punch.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am friends with the author and took the photo used on the cover. I was able to read a draft of the book so I had some context as we were working on the cover. Here are two tidbits to hopefully prove that I am not just blowing sunshine:
I often ride the bus to and from work, and I have developed a reliable internal timer for when I need to stop reading and start keeping an eye out for my stop. Before Alex only two books have made me miss or almost miss my stop. Alex was the third.
The second is that when my wife started reading Alex I suggested she shouldn't read it before bed. I think that by itself is a good review for thriller.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am friends with the author and took the photo used on the cover. I was able to read a draft of the book so I had some context as we were working on the cover. Here are two tidbits to hopefully prove that I am not just blowing sunshine:
I often ride the bus to and from work, and I have developed a reliable internal timer for when I need to stop reading and start keeping an eye out for my stop. Before Alex only two books have made me miss or almost miss my stop. Alex was the third.
The second is that when my wife started reading Alex I suggested she shouldn't read it before bed. I think that by itself is a good review for thriller.
July 4, 2012
Kinda reminded me of stir of echoes...and overall of the great richard matherson...kinda creepy...easy read...would rate it much higher if adam expanded on his interpersonal relationships with wife, boss, and his gay friend. I found these relationships very entertaining and was disappointed the author cut much of this...i think the inclusion of more relationship detail would add more depth to main character, but what do i know? I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more. I recommend the book and I didnt see the twist at the end! fantastic! Great first novel. 3 stars only because i wanted more interpersonal relationships.
PS: to complimen the author....he never describes any physical attributes of the character yet I had vivid mental image! bravo!
PS: to complimen the author....he never describes any physical attributes of the character yet I had vivid mental image! bravo!
August 26, 2012
A solid five stars and on my favorites. This story is sad very frightening, poignant and well written and edited from beginning to end. I lived in the Minneapolis area for 20 years and I also loved the locations and background of winter there. I also found the story, along with the pacing and writing style to achieve that elusive quality of suspense that pulled me in and kept me riveted to the story to the end. I also think that this story would make a great movie. I cried I was scared I was inspired. I hope the author continues with this great quality work.
August 25, 2012
So many reviews I read talked of "the twist" at the end of the story. What twist? I could predict that ending a bookcase away! Fast read, annoyed that there was so little character development, and this author has no command over how to put a conversation on paper. Saving grace? The story did entice you to read, although I regularly thought I was reading "sixth sense" again....
September 19, 2012
This was a well written (in terms of structure and syntax) and interesting story. However, I found the middle incredibly slow. There were a number of chapters that did not progress the plot and could have been omitted without affecting the overall story.
July 21, 2013
Fantastic, yet heartbreaking novel! I could not put it down, I read it in several hours!
August 22, 2019
I listened to the audio on this one. I started it at work and immediately realized it would have to wait because I just couldn't do this in a public atmosphere. This took me back to when my son was about five. There was a horrible story all over the news about an abducted child who was found dead and molested. Being human, this story made me sick. Being a parent of a child similar in age, this horrified me and permanently scarred my psyche. I can remember weeks of nightmares that still cause me to tear up 15 years later. This book to me right back to that hell. I think I kept reading because I wanted to know if Alex was a product of paranormal activity or insanity. I also needed to see if justice was served.
If you ask me if the book is good, I will tell you no. The story is terrible and heartbreaking. If you ask me to recommend it, I won't. The thought of one's child being helpless and hurt, not understanding why this is happening and why you aren't saving him, cripples me. The fact that the fiction in this story is a reality for too many kids made the book hard to read.
So for the positives... the writing is solid. The author creates real emotions that although unpleasant are strong. I will not reread this book but I cannot say I am sorry that I read it. It pulled me from my safe little world. It reminded me that this is an issue not to be forgotten. Bottom line is that I think the author succeeded in doing what he intended, creating a heart wrenching story.
If you ask me if the book is good, I will tell you no. The story is terrible and heartbreaking. If you ask me to recommend it, I won't. The thought of one's child being helpless and hurt, not understanding why this is happening and why you aren't saving him, cripples me. The fact that the fiction in this story is a reality for too many kids made the book hard to read.
So for the positives... the writing is solid. The author creates real emotions that although unpleasant are strong. I will not reread this book but I cannot say I am sorry that I read it. It pulled me from my safe little world. It reminded me that this is an issue not to be forgotten. Bottom line is that I think the author succeeded in doing what he intended, creating a heart wrenching story.
August 27, 2021
I don't know the pain of losing a child, and I can't imagine it either, it must be a pain unlike any other.
The writing in Alex is beautiful. Detailed, a nice flow, easy to read, but so very painful. The author details the scenes enough that I know what's going on, I can vividly imagine it, and I'm sucked in, all without peppering the pages with "flowery" language that some authors use. We're sucked right in to this one.
It's not "scary". I can sleep afterward, I just didn't want to. But it is jarring, depressing, and a painful read all in one. It didn't make me shake in fear, but it made me fall silent, and think, and feel a pang in my heart. Alex is disturbing at most, and should come with a few trigger warnings.
The plot can become predictable about midway through the book. You can start to put some pieces together to figure out how it's going to end. But that didn't stop me from enjoying it. Even if I had an idea, an inkling of what the next page would bring, I still wanted to read it. Sometimes it's not about the surprise of it all, it's about seeing it for yourself.
All in all, a really good read. I've been in a reading slump for a few months now, and this was the perfect book to crawl my way back out of it. I highly recommend Alex if you're looking at something to pull at your heart strings.
The writing in Alex is beautiful. Detailed, a nice flow, easy to read, but so very painful. The author details the scenes enough that I know what's going on, I can vividly imagine it, and I'm sucked in, all without peppering the pages with "flowery" language that some authors use. We're sucked right in to this one.
It's not "scary". I can sleep afterward, I just didn't want to. But it is jarring, depressing, and a painful read all in one. It didn't make me shake in fear, but it made me fall silent, and think, and feel a pang in my heart. Alex is disturbing at most, and should come with a few trigger warnings.
The plot can become predictable about midway through the book. You can start to put some pieces together to figure out how it's going to end. But that didn't stop me from enjoying it. Even if I had an idea, an inkling of what the next page would bring, I still wanted to read it. Sometimes it's not about the surprise of it all, it's about seeing it for yourself.
All in all, a really good read. I've been in a reading slump for a few months now, and this was the perfect book to crawl my way back out of it. I highly recommend Alex if you're looking at something to pull at your heart strings.
April 9, 2019
Overall, this book was a good read. It had moments where the action was a little stale, but overall, it kept my attention fairly well. The moments where Ian had interactions at work fell flat at times and the interactions with Alina could have been more climactic. The plot line was decent.
August 14, 2019
The premise of this book was very good - Ian's son Alex, who was kidnapped and murdered, comes back to communicate something to his dad. Ian has to work out what Alex is trying to tell him. The book sort of drags on with Ian figuring things out very slowly mixed with an
ENORMOUS
amount of angsting over his marriage, his job and his mental state. And then it finishes with an
ENORMOUS
amount of action, blood, and guts packed into just a few pages.
I also had some trouble with these things:
- you (Ian) let your 5 year old walk home alone from day care? Your 5 YEAR OLD??? I am someone who believes that parents are way too overprotective these days, but a 5 YEAR OLD?? walking home alone??
- you (Ian) say that you went THE NEXT DAY to the daycare, thoroughly searched it, and made the daycare owner call the police. (p. 21) WUT???? You didn't call the police yourself when Alex did not show up? You waited until the next day???
- grammar: p. 17 ..."came from the weapon discharging on accident..." No No No. "discharged BY accident. p. 190 "His earlier certainty that he had simply fell..." No No No. "that he had simply FALLEN..."
- weird logic: p. 273 "He reached for her hand and she took it." She took her own hand? How about "He reached out his hand and she took it."
- too many different scenarios for the weapon discharging: was it by accident? did Alex shoot Eston? did Eston deliberately shoot Alex in the face or not? How do you accidentally shoot yourself in the stomach when you are wrestling with a kid?
In any case, I needed a distraction and this sufficed.
I also had some trouble with these things:
- you (Ian) let your 5 year old walk home alone from day care? Your 5 YEAR OLD??? I am someone who believes that parents are way too overprotective these days, but a 5 YEAR OLD?? walking home alone??
- you (Ian) say that you went THE NEXT DAY to the daycare, thoroughly searched it, and made the daycare owner call the police. (p. 21) WUT???? You didn't call the police yourself when Alex did not show up? You waited until the next day???
- grammar: p. 17 ..."came from the weapon discharging on accident..." No No No. "discharged BY accident. p. 190 "His earlier certainty that he had simply fell..." No No No. "that he had simply FALLEN..."
- weird logic: p. 273 "He reached for her hand and she took it." She took her own hand? How about "He reached out his hand and she took it."
- too many different scenarios for the weapon discharging: was it by accident? did Alex shoot Eston? did Eston deliberately shoot Alex in the face or not? How do you accidentally shoot yourself in the stomach when you are wrestling with a kid?
In any case, I needed a distraction and this sufficed.
July 27, 2012
Alex is a story about a young boy’s murder and the consequences this has on his parents – namely the father, Ian. It is a psychological thriller that places the reader in Ian’s shoes as visions of his dead son become increasingly frequent, causing him (and the reader) to question: Is he going insane? Or is Alex trying to do something?
Nicolai is masterful in his writing. The novel flows smoothly, and he manages to convey Ian’s thought process in a way that feels natural and not forced or convenient. This is definitely not one of those books that require you to re-read certain sections for comprehension, and this goes a long way in terms of immersion.
In a perfect world, no parent should ever have to bury their own child. Unfortunately, we live in a flawed society and these heinous acts of evil do occur. This is the subject matter that Alex tackles, and, frankly, this novel is brutally honest in its portrayal. There ARE difficult sections in this novel; however, Nicolai refrains from being excessively graphic. A mature reader should be able to get through these passages.
Although I am too young to have children of my own, I didn’t find it too difficult to empathize with Ian. This is primarily because his reactions were realistic. Ian’s decisions, actions, and emotions never felt forced. Despite the fact that I wouldn’t have made the same calls as Ian, not once did I ever feel like he was acting in a way that was convenient for the story – which was especially appreciated as a reader who gets extremely frustrated when authors treat us like idiots who can’t see what’s going on.
I admit that there were more than a few instances when I felt like the novel dragged on, yet I still found myself eager to read more and discover the truth. In the end, Alex is an unsettling page-turner that I recommend for fans of horror and thrillers – although, I can’t help but wish that Nicolai had dialed down the amount of ghostly encounters, as the frequency in which they occurred ultimately lowered the creepiness factor.
For there mere $0.99 price tag, this novel is a steal. Self-published book-a-phobes need not be wary, as Alex proves to be a top-notch quality product.
Nicolai is masterful in his writing. The novel flows smoothly, and he manages to convey Ian’s thought process in a way that feels natural and not forced or convenient. This is definitely not one of those books that require you to re-read certain sections for comprehension, and this goes a long way in terms of immersion.
In a perfect world, no parent should ever have to bury their own child. Unfortunately, we live in a flawed society and these heinous acts of evil do occur. This is the subject matter that Alex tackles, and, frankly, this novel is brutally honest in its portrayal. There ARE difficult sections in this novel; however, Nicolai refrains from being excessively graphic. A mature reader should be able to get through these passages.
Although I am too young to have children of my own, I didn’t find it too difficult to empathize with Ian. This is primarily because his reactions were realistic. Ian’s decisions, actions, and emotions never felt forced. Despite the fact that I wouldn’t have made the same calls as Ian, not once did I ever feel like he was acting in a way that was convenient for the story – which was especially appreciated as a reader who gets extremely frustrated when authors treat us like idiots who can’t see what’s going on.
I admit that there were more than a few instances when I felt like the novel dragged on, yet I still found myself eager to read more and discover the truth. In the end, Alex is an unsettling page-turner that I recommend for fans of horror and thrillers – although, I can’t help but wish that Nicolai had dialed down the amount of ghostly encounters, as the frequency in which they occurred ultimately lowered the creepiness factor.
For there mere $0.99 price tag, this novel is a steal. Self-published book-a-phobes need not be wary, as Alex proves to be a top-notch quality product.
February 20, 2013
"God told Abraham to kill his own son. He threatened him, to make him do it. Abraham took his boy to the top of the mountain and he would've done it. He would've killed his own son, but God finally said, 'Just kidding' and let him off the hook."
She was shaking her head.
"That's now how-"
He kept his voice level, but he raised it to be heard over her.
"I will not serve that God, I will not pray to that God, and I will not acknowledge that God."
I first learned of Adam Nicolai after he read my book, The Crooked God Machine, and we began emailing back and forth. He provided me a copy of Alex. When I started reading, I finished it in two days. It's a well-written book, with cutting, quick prose that reminds me of the works of other contemporary horror writer. Nicolai delves into the terror of ordinary horror, the loss of a son. It is a book about the love between son and father, grieving, loss, and loneliness. The main character, Ian, struggles to keep his life together while his son appears to him in vivid visions.
Nicolai does a great job of making the mundane horrifying. The potential loss of the main character's wife, Alina, is nearly as horrifying as the rape scenes that take place in Ian's basement. The drama of losing his job, and the nosy character Sheila, are as riveting and urgent as the search for the murderer's accomplice. It forces you into confrontation with the full effect of the loss of Ian's child, forces you to keep from ignoring the horrible, excruciating way in which his life falls apart as he has to deal with supernatural entities.
There were a few issues with the book: Some of the pacing in the first half is slow, the introduction of Mr. Tuskers as guardian is unexpected and doesn't seem to fit the tone of the rest of the novel, and the ending was somewhat predictable. However, despite these minor issues it was a satisfying read and I'd recommend it to any fans of contemporary horror. I am already a quarter through the way of his second novel, "Rebecca."
She was shaking her head.
"That's now how-"
He kept his voice level, but he raised it to be heard over her.
"I will not serve that God, I will not pray to that God, and I will not acknowledge that God."
I first learned of Adam Nicolai after he read my book, The Crooked God Machine, and we began emailing back and forth. He provided me a copy of Alex. When I started reading, I finished it in two days. It's a well-written book, with cutting, quick prose that reminds me of the works of other contemporary horror writer. Nicolai delves into the terror of ordinary horror, the loss of a son. It is a book about the love between son and father, grieving, loss, and loneliness. The main character, Ian, struggles to keep his life together while his son appears to him in vivid visions.
Nicolai does a great job of making the mundane horrifying. The potential loss of the main character's wife, Alina, is nearly as horrifying as the rape scenes that take place in Ian's basement. The drama of losing his job, and the nosy character Sheila, are as riveting and urgent as the search for the murderer's accomplice. It forces you into confrontation with the full effect of the loss of Ian's child, forces you to keep from ignoring the horrible, excruciating way in which his life falls apart as he has to deal with supernatural entities.
There were a few issues with the book: Some of the pacing in the first half is slow, the introduction of Mr. Tuskers as guardian is unexpected and doesn't seem to fit the tone of the rest of the novel, and the ending was somewhat predictable. However, despite these minor issues it was a satisfying read and I'd recommend it to any fans of contemporary horror. I am already a quarter through the way of his second novel, "Rebecca."
November 10, 2012
It is not often I read a story so well written that it makes me blubber like a damn baby, but this book did it. And that says something, because I tend to be a bit *u-hem* desensitized from all the horror I read and watch, and more often than not characters tend to be written so shallow it can be hard to care about them at all anyways. Luckily that is not the case with this book! “Alex” is a story of a father’s love and the depth of his loss when his 5 year old son is abducted (and subsequently murdered) when walking to his first day a kindergarten. The plot was so engrossing I had to finish it as fast as possible, and I dare say, it is probably one of the best books I have read in a LONG time. You become a fly on the wall, privy to watching the tragic downward spiral of guilt and sorrow that occurs when something you love more than life itself is taken from you in the worst way imaginable. When Alex’s dad starts seeing/ hearing his son’s ghost, you begin to wonder if he is going insane from sorrow (since he is the only one the ghost appears to), or if it really is his son come back to him for some other purpose. The answer to this keeps you guessing until the end of the story, with the conclusion being both surprising and satisfying. I have a feeling I will be thinking of this book for a while, probably partially because I am a mom, but its subject matter really did touch me deeply. After finishing it I had to go give both my kids big hugs and kisses and repeated the "stranger danger" talk. Thank you Adam J. Nicolai for such an amazing well- written story, I look greatly forward to reading more of you work!
“Alex” is a true gem of the indie book market, so if you haven’t read it yet, DO IT NOW (but bring a box of tissues, the subject matter is not sugar coated and if you have kids you are for sure going to want to cry a little).
“Alex” is a true gem of the indie book market, so if you haven’t read it yet, DO IT NOW (but bring a box of tissues, the subject matter is not sugar coated and if you have kids you are for sure going to want to cry a little).
August 1, 2012
This was one of the most heartfelt stories I have ever read. My heart broke for poor Ian. I have a 6 year old son and I couldn't imagine losing him. As if that weren't bad enough for Ian to lose his son, he then had to see Alex everyday thereafter. In the midst of thinking he was losing his mind he was reminded every day of the guilt that came from thinking he failed to save his child. It really picked up when Ian realized that Alex was trying to give him clues to help him find the accomplice of the man that killed Alex. It was like a game because Alex could only use scenes from the past to communicate with his father, he couldn't say anything that he hadn't said before. That was very clever. I thought it was awful that Ian had to "see" everything that happened to Alex after he got kidnapped. I didn't expect it to lead where it did and was pleasantly surprised. This was a great book with a great ending. It definately makes you keep a better eye on your children and makes you appreciate all the little moments you get when they are young. I think Mr. Nicolai is a very talented author and am anxiously awaiting his next novel.
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