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The Chill
In this terrifying thriller, a supernatural force—set in motion a century ago—threatens to devastate New York City.
Far upstate, in New York’s ancient forests, a drowned village lays beneath the dark, still waters of the Chilewaukee reservoir. Early in the 20th century, the town was destroyed for the greater good: bringing water to the millions living downstate. Or at least that’s what the politicians from Manhattan insisted at the time. The local families, settled there since America’s founding, were forced from their land, but they didn’t move far, and some didn’t move at all…
Now, a century later, the repercussions of human arrogance are finally making themselves known. An inspector assigned to oversee the dam, dangerously neglected for decades, witnesses something inexplicable. It turns out that more than the village was left behind in the waters of the Chill when it was abandoned. The townspeople didn’t evacuate without a fight. A dark prophecy remained, too, and the time has come for it to be fulfilled. Those who remember must ask themselves: who will be next? For sacrifices must be made. And as the dark waters begin to inexorably rise, the demand for a fresh sacrifice emerges from the deep...
Far upstate, in New York’s ancient forests, a drowned village lays beneath the dark, still waters of the Chilewaukee reservoir. Early in the 20th century, the town was destroyed for the greater good: bringing water to the millions living downstate. Or at least that’s what the politicians from Manhattan insisted at the time. The local families, settled there since America’s founding, were forced from their land, but they didn’t move far, and some didn’t move at all…
Now, a century later, the repercussions of human arrogance are finally making themselves known. An inspector assigned to oversee the dam, dangerously neglected for decades, witnesses something inexplicable. It turns out that more than the village was left behind in the waters of the Chill when it was abandoned. The townspeople didn’t evacuate without a fight. A dark prophecy remained, too, and the time has come for it to be fulfilled. Those who remember must ask themselves: who will be next? For sacrifices must be made. And as the dark waters begin to inexorably rise, the demand for a fresh sacrifice emerges from the deep...
435 pages, Hardcover
First published February 11, 2020
1121 people are currently reading
15509 people want to read
About the author
Scott Carson
4 books847 followersScott Carson is the pen name of Michael Koryta, a New York Times bestselling author whose work has been translated into more than twenty languages, adapted into major motion pictures, and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. A former private investigator and reporter, his writing has been praised by Stephen King, Michael Connelly, and Dean Koontz, among many others. Raised in Bloomington, Indiana, he now lives in Indiana and Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,024 reviews
January 1, 2020
3.25 STARS
With The Chill, we have Michael Koryta writing under the pseudonym Scott Carson, and he seems to be returning to his original style of supernatural thriller, something he does extremely well. From the prologue here I was hooked, and it's no surprise that the author is able to spin a web of lies and deceit, but with a paranormal flair. I'm not sure what will be included in the finished copy, but I found the information surrounding the research that the author did into past events that he inserted (fictionally) into this story to be fascinating and engaging. My only major grip with the story is that it was just too long for this sort of book; many people who pick up this sub-genre of thriller are looking for a fast-paced, snappy read, and at 450+ pages in my copy, it bogged down the action scenes. I'd still recommend this one to fans of the author's previous work, and also those who don't mind a meaty read, because the story is incredible.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
With The Chill, we have Michael Koryta writing under the pseudonym Scott Carson, and he seems to be returning to his original style of supernatural thriller, something he does extremely well. From the prologue here I was hooked, and it's no surprise that the author is able to spin a web of lies and deceit, but with a paranormal flair. I'm not sure what will be included in the finished copy, but I found the information surrounding the research that the author did into past events that he inserted (fictionally) into this story to be fascinating and engaging. My only major grip with the story is that it was just too long for this sort of book; many people who pick up this sub-genre of thriller are looking for a fast-paced, snappy read, and at 450+ pages in my copy, it bogged down the action scenes. I'd still recommend this one to fans of the author's previous work, and also those who don't mind a meaty read, because the story is incredible.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
December 24, 2023
Finally! This was held at my library for 4 months during lockdown. It was worth the wait. I find The Chill to be very good. Not the kind of jump scare, bloody gore, but... with unsettling souls.
I love the eerie atmosphere of the mountainous town. The rain, the water, the dam, the forgotten town where the dead hold grudges for almost a century long. The city owes them and it's time to repay that debt.
I took a star off because the chapters with the engineer were slow and the story could use a stronger ending.
I love the eerie atmosphere of the mountainous town. The rain, the water, the dam, the forgotten town where the dead hold grudges for almost a century long. The city owes them and it's time to repay that debt.
I took a star off because the chapters with the engineer were slow and the story could use a stronger ending.
August 27, 2023
Breathtakingly atmospheric!
This book reminded me a a Stephen King type of novel, a slow build up of tension, detailed back stories of the main characters, seemingly unconnected plot lines and then everything comes together in an explosive finale. This story was a sort of disaster tale with a supernatural backdrop. Land that predated humanity, land that possessed its own intelligent life force and the building of a reservoir, an event that should never have taken place. Long dead construction workers conscripted into an unnatural force committed to an act of revenge upon the inhabitants of New York. Wow, what a compulsive read that was.
This book reminded me a a Stephen King type of novel, a slow build up of tension, detailed back stories of the main characters, seemingly unconnected plot lines and then everything comes together in an explosive finale. This story was a sort of disaster tale with a supernatural backdrop. Land that predated humanity, land that possessed its own intelligent life force and the building of a reservoir, an event that should never have taken place. Long dead construction workers conscripted into an unnatural force committed to an act of revenge upon the inhabitants of New York. Wow, what a compulsive read that was.
January 30, 2020
A fantastic supernatural thriller that harkens back to horror's glory days. Character driven and ominously creepy, this one will have you wondering what's at the other end of that drippy faucet in the kitchen.
January 27, 2020
An update New York village was flooded 75 years ago for a reservoir project. There are legends about the strange things that happen in the Dead Waters...the area where you can still see the burnt out submerged buildings that used to be Galesburg. But it's more than that.....an evil....a strange heaviness that is more than just the leftovers of a flooded village.
I'm a sucker for stories about submerged towns. There are so many urban legends surrounding reservoir projects and submerged towns, especially if the dam has not been properly maintained. Portions of this story were incredibly creepy and spooky....but at times the pacing dragged a bit. The story lost my attention at times because it just moved too slowly or went on too long...I'm not quite sure which it is...or if it's a mix of both.
I love the front cover art! It sets the creepy atmosphere for this supernatural horror/disaster story.
All in all, an entertaining read, even if it did drag a bit at times. This is the first book by Scott Carson (a pen name for author Michael Koryta) that I've read. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Very creative, interesting concept!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Atria Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I'm a sucker for stories about submerged towns. There are so many urban legends surrounding reservoir projects and submerged towns, especially if the dam has not been properly maintained. Portions of this story were incredibly creepy and spooky....but at times the pacing dragged a bit. The story lost my attention at times because it just moved too slowly or went on too long...I'm not quite sure which it is...or if it's a mix of both.
I love the front cover art! It sets the creepy atmosphere for this supernatural horror/disaster story.
All in all, an entertaining read, even if it did drag a bit at times. This is the first book by Scott Carson (a pen name for author Michael Koryta) that I've read. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Very creative, interesting concept!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Atria Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
January 2, 2020
The Chill
is a well written, spooky, town mystery novel. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and the dynamics behind each of the characters. My only issue is that this book is seriously too long, and at points I felt bored because of it's pacing. If you enjoy slower-paced atmospheric settings, this book would be more enjoyable. My attention span is too short for that. I do think folks that enjoy Stephen King will be able to appreciate this book more than me.
January 21, 2020
Water Works
I’ve had this on my ‘To Read’ list for months so I was elated upon notification that I’d won a copy. Yay!
I missed the description blurb stating this had a supernatural element which isn't my go-to genre. Had I been paying attention, I sill would have purchased it based on the eerie premise. It caught my attention instantly.
The star of this show is the water. It’s everywhere. A lake backed up by an aging dam, drenching non-stop rain, and misplaced running water-imagined or real? Drip…drip… drip...
Eighty years prior, a dam was built to create a reservoir and drowned a town in the process. Residents were evicted from their homes and businesses by the local sheriff - their friend. Citing eminent domain, he was required to perform his job duties as dictated by elected officials.
Appropriately titled, this was both melancholy and ominous as the past demanded reconciliation and wrongs righted. Ghostly supernatural forces and legacy collide with civil engineering and political power.
Structural mistakes, innocent workers blasting in subterranean tunnels, a dam festering and straining at the seams-all inauspicious suggestions to what might come. I loved the build up!
I was entertained throughout. A cast of likable characters and a strong desire for discovery kept me moving although I feel it was a bit long.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Scott Carson for my copy. My review opinions are my own.
I’ve had this on my ‘To Read’ list for months so I was elated upon notification that I’d won a copy. Yay!
I missed the description blurb stating this had a supernatural element which isn't my go-to genre. Had I been paying attention, I sill would have purchased it based on the eerie premise. It caught my attention instantly.
The star of this show is the water. It’s everywhere. A lake backed up by an aging dam, drenching non-stop rain, and misplaced running water-imagined or real? Drip…drip… drip...
Eighty years prior, a dam was built to create a reservoir and drowned a town in the process. Residents were evicted from their homes and businesses by the local sheriff - their friend. Citing eminent domain, he was required to perform his job duties as dictated by elected officials.
Appropriately titled, this was both melancholy and ominous as the past demanded reconciliation and wrongs righted. Ghostly supernatural forces and legacy collide with civil engineering and political power.
Structural mistakes, innocent workers blasting in subterranean tunnels, a dam festering and straining at the seams-all inauspicious suggestions to what might come. I loved the build up!
I was entertained throughout. A cast of likable characters and a strong desire for discovery kept me moving although I feel it was a bit long.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Scott Carson for my copy. My review opinions are my own.
February 18, 2020
The Chill is about a small town, Galesburg, that was once drowned underwater to make a new dam. We follow the ancestors of the people from that small town, now living in the "new" town of Torrance.
When I first started reading, there were a lot of jumps in the POV. So much that I wondered who the main characters even were, and if I'd ever get to spend enough time with any of them to care. The answer is yes and no. Focus does slow down to a handful of main characters, but I still think there were too many, and while I cared about a couple of them, I didn't care about all of them.
In addition to the POV jumps, the book is weighed down by the description about dams and dam construction. It wasn't as much as say, the church construction in The Pillars of the Earth, and some of it was interesting, but a lot of it went over my head.
Towards the end, I was confused by a lot of the description about where the characters were and what they were doing. For example, at one point I swear Aaron swims into a tunnel, and a chapter later I swear Gillian is climbing into the same tunnel. I think maps of the tunnels might have helped. (I read an ARC, so it's possible one is included in final copies.)
It was hard to feel excited about the plot when I was never entirely sure what the stakes were. The characters keep mentioning how they are going to get back at New York City, but I was never really clear on precisely how that was going to happen (flood? tainted water supply?). The Chilewaukee reservoir (The Chill) the story centers on, is a reserve basin and not connected to anything else. Specifics are mentioned towards the end, but by then I was mostly over it.
I feel like the true climax, and the story that felt suspenseful, came much earlier than the end. I was enjoying the book for the most part until then, and after that point everything came to a full stop for me. Ultimately, pacing and structure were an issue for me.
That being said- I did like the supernatural part of the story and unraveling the mystery. There's a lot of suspension of disbelief needed for it to work but those were my favorite parts. I just wished they'd been a little more frequent? It was like the author wasn't sure if he was writing a thriller or a horror or a science fiction story. It wasn't quite enough of any one of those things to be effective, and the result was muddied.
All in all- not a bad book, I just wished it had been a little more exciting. Thank you to the publisher who provided an ARC for review.
In addition to the POV jumps, the book is weighed down by the description about dams and dam construction. It wasn't as much as say, the church construction in The Pillars of the Earth, and some of it was interesting, but a lot of it went over my head.
Towards the end, I was confused by a lot of the description about where the characters were and what they were doing. For example, at one point I swear Aaron swims into a tunnel, and a chapter later I swear Gillian is climbing into the same tunnel. I think maps of the tunnels might have helped. (I read an ARC, so it's possible one is included in final copies.)
It was hard to feel excited about the plot when I was never entirely sure what the stakes were. The characters keep mentioning how they are going to get back at New York City, but I was never really clear on precisely how that was going to happen (flood? tainted water supply?). The Chilewaukee reservoir (The Chill) the story centers on, is a reserve basin and not connected to anything else. Specifics are mentioned towards the end, but by then I was mostly over it.
I feel like the true climax, and the story that felt suspenseful, came much earlier than the end. I was enjoying the book for the most part until then, and after that point everything came to a full stop for me. Ultimately, pacing and structure were an issue for me.
That being said- I did like the supernatural part of the story and unraveling the mystery. There's a lot of suspension of disbelief needed for it to work but those were my favorite parts. I just wished they'd been a little more frequent? It was like the author wasn't sure if he was writing a thriller or a horror or a science fiction story. It wasn't quite enough of any one of those things to be effective, and the result was muddied.
All in all- not a bad book, I just wished it had been a little more exciting. Thank you to the publisher who provided an ARC for review.
February 22, 2020
Welcome everyone. I am your dam guide, Aristotle
Please don't wander off the dam tour and please take all the dam pictures you want. Now are there any dam questions?
Yeah, where are the dam ghosts?!
You know what sends a 'Chill' down my spine?
A dnf after 100 pages
I feel guilty like a failure. Is that weird?
I carried on for another 100 pages and just couldn't go on.
Such a dull and uneventful read.
Stephen King's blurb was "Wow! Terrific. Characters you root for and a story that grips you from the first page." Talk about fake news.
I didn't know what the plot was or who the main characters were.
Skip it and go watch an episode of Casper the friendly ghost.
Please don't wander off the dam tour and please take all the dam pictures you want. Now are there any dam questions?
Yeah, where are the dam ghosts?!
You know what sends a 'Chill' down my spine?
A dnf after 100 pages
I feel guilty like a failure. Is that weird?
I carried on for another 100 pages and just couldn't go on.
Such a dull and uneventful read.
Stephen King's blurb was "Wow! Terrific. Characters you root for and a story that grips you from the first page." Talk about fake news.
I didn't know what the plot was or who the main characters were.
Skip it and go watch an episode of Casper the friendly ghost.
July 8, 2022
3.5 stars
This was a chilling book indeed. Roughly a hundred years ago the town of Galesburg was purposely flooded to allow water to go downstream to benefit New York City. Rightfully so, the townspeople of Galesburg were less than thrilled, some evacuated to a town further upstream called Torrance(loved this little easter egg to SK - at least I assume it was) while others did not leave and are looking for revenge.
Skip ahead to modern day and we are introduced to some of the people living in Torrance and are in the midst of a torrential rain that just won't stop and the dam is hitting dangerously high levels. Is history repeating itself or is something else going on?
What I liked:
-The idea that there was a reason for everything - in the wrong spot at the right time kind of thing.
-Sunken village - always gets me!
-Supernatural elements - I like these when done in a creepy way and this book delivered on those
-Photographer!
-History of Galesburg - these were some of my favorite parts just wish there was more
What I disliked:
-It was a bit technical in spots and I had a hard time picturing how the damn, reservoir etc all
looked. A nice little map would help me. I mean I know how they typically look but it seemed there
were different areas that I just couldn't picture in my head.
-Slow in many spots - could have cut the book down a bit being it was a bit long at 400+ pages
Overall this was a good read. It had a spooky feel just a bit too long.
This was a chilling book indeed. Roughly a hundred years ago the town of Galesburg was purposely flooded to allow water to go downstream to benefit New York City. Rightfully so, the townspeople of Galesburg were less than thrilled, some evacuated to a town further upstream called Torrance(loved this little easter egg to SK - at least I assume it was) while others did not leave and are looking for revenge.
Skip ahead to modern day and we are introduced to some of the people living in Torrance and are in the midst of a torrential rain that just won't stop and the dam is hitting dangerously high levels. Is history repeating itself or is something else going on?
What I liked:
-The idea that there was a reason for everything - in the wrong spot at the right time kind of thing.
-Sunken village - always gets me!
-Supernatural elements - I like these when done in a creepy way and this book delivered on those
-Photographer!
-History of Galesburg - these were some of my favorite parts just wish there was more
What I disliked:
-It was a bit technical in spots and I had a hard time picturing how the damn, reservoir etc all
looked. A nice little map would help me. I mean I know how they typically look but it seemed there
were different areas that I just couldn't picture in my head.
-Slow in many spots - could have cut the book down a bit being it was a bit long at 400+ pages
Overall this was a good read. It had a spooky feel just a bit too long.
May 20, 2020
DNF at 85%
I just cannot with this. I came really close to finishing it, but I don't have the brain space right now for caring about this book. I don't care about the characters. I don't care about the damn dam. I don't care about the petty ass ghosts. The writing was good enough, but boy was this boring.
I just cannot with this. I came really close to finishing it, but I don't have the brain space right now for caring about this book. I don't care about the characters. I don't care about the damn dam. I don't care about the petty ass ghosts. The writing was good enough, but boy was this boring.
February 17, 2022
I liked it enough for a 3.5 stars unfortunately I don't feel like it gave it the right amount of interest as my mood probably was wrong for it. Will definitely pick it back up in the future when I'm in a better mood and see if I enjoy it more
January 7, 2020
I had to think a bit before writing this review.
I liked the book. I found the author’s world so incredibly vivid and his characters so wonderfully compelling that there were times I didn’t want to stop reading.
But…there were times I did.
The author gives us so much information about dams and water and, while it’s all fascinating, it also tends to take a rather informational tone – almost a lecture – and you lose the story once in a while. In fact, I put it down for a full five days and read something else before returning to it.
Our author’s plot is a good one. You have a truly chilling ghost story which just teeters on the edge of epic. But it will take a dedicated reader to read past all of the information on dam construction and maintenance.
A good read overall, though.
*ARC provided via Net Galley
April 28, 2025
First book from this author and I really enjoyed it. Kind of a mix of a thriller and an adventure. I recommend wholeheartedly.
December 20, 2019
I loved this! Sometimes books that are hyped just don’t live up to my expectations but this one did! It’s terrifically written and laid out so the story just builds like a freight train heading down the tracks. Descriptive to the point you feel it down to your bones!
Thanks to the publisher for this early copy for review:)
Thanks to the publisher for this early copy for review:)
May 23, 2020
This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced supernatural thriller.
February 27, 2020
2.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/02/27/...
Nestled in the forests of northern New York situated in the Catskills is the small town of Chilewaukee and the calm, quiet waters of their reservoir nicknamed the Chill, which supplies water for millions of people living in the southern part of the state. Beneath its mirror-smooth surface though, lies a terrible history of violence and death. Evidence of that past can still be found in the ruins of Galesburg, lying flooded at the bottom of those clear waters, the final remnants of a town that didn’t go down without a fight. Nearly 80 years have passed since officials came up from the city and tried to force the townspeople out, prompting a fierce rebellion, but in the end, their efforts were all for naught. The Chilewaukee dam and reservoir were still constructed “for the greater good”, and Galesburg was drowned.
Now though, the once proud dam sports cracks and leaks, a result of decades of negligence and oversight. Enter Mick Fleming, chief engineer of the state’s water infrastructure, whose grandfather was also the architect behind the Chilewaukee dam. But while in town doing inspections, Mick spies a strange man lurking around in the woods, claiming to be a freelance journalist and photographer. Meanwhile, Chilewaukee’s sheriff Steve Ellsworth has his hands full with his son Aaron, a young man who hasn’t been quite the same since his mother died. Bounced out of the Coast Guard’s rigorous rescue swimming program for letting his temper get to him, Aaron returned to his hometown and immediately fell in with the wrong crowd, getting into drugs and drinking. Steve wishes very badly for Aaron to turn his life around, but when the day finally comes, it is not in the way the sheriff wanted or even dreamed could happen. The terrible incident brings officer Gillian Mathers of the Department of Environmental Protection Police to Chilewaukee, where she expected to deal with an accidental murder, but instead is faced with something far weirder. With ties to the drowned village of Galesburg herself, Gillian listens to Aaron’s wild, impossible report of what happened, while hiding the fact she knows more than she lets on.
This is the initial set up for the premise of The Chill, by thriller author Michael Koryta writing under the pseudonym Scott Carson. It had the potential for so much mystery, horror, and drama, and for the first half of the book, at least, the story delivered all that and more. At a certain point though, the storytelling takes a sharp nosedive, and the following are the reasons why I think this happened. One, as it sometimes happens with even the most experienced of authors, Carson decided to get a little too enthusiastic with sharing of information about the logistics and architectural challenges of building a damn dam. Yes, I get it—while doing prep work for their books, authors no doubt come across fascinating tidbits in their research all the time. Doesn’t mean the readers always want to hear about them though. It makes for dry reading, and here, it resulted in too many sections where pacing dragged, and the halted momentum caused the rest of the novel’s strengths to crumble along with its chances of being a great book.
Character development appeared to be an early casualty, as I thought another reason for the lackluster second half was absence of genuinely interesting personalities. The character I enjoyed reading about most also happened to be the most flawed, and that was Aaron, an angry and troubled young man whom I admittedly wanted to throttle from the first moment he showed up on the page. However, the first half saw him making great strides, though ultimately that progress was completely obliterated by the meandering narrative and overly complex dam history and mythology which followed. By the end of the book, there were few characters I connected with enough to care whether they made it out alive or not.
And finally, the heady atmosphere of eeriness and mystery present in the beginning was pretty much all gone by the halfway point. I’ve seen The Chill being compared to Stephen King, who apparently even provided a blurb and recommended it on social media, and in many respects I can even understand why some folks would draw similarities, especially in the novel’s supernatural elements. What it lacked, however, was the keen sense of dread that King does so well, the way he can maintain a high level of suspense so that even when the reader know exactly what’s coming, you’re kept on the edge of your seat. When the inevitable finally does come in The Chill though, there was no surprise or horror, just a sense of detachment as I watched the disaster play out with bored apathy.
Even the audiobook narrator couldn’t really save this one for me, even though John Bedford Lloyd is a great reader who has done a few other thrillers I enjoyed. His performance in The Chill was solid, but because of the way this novel was structured, I think it could have used multiple narrators which would have made the experience more immersive.
Overall, this was a book that had an amazing concept and lots of potential. Sadly, after a promising first half, things rapidly unraveled and in the end I was left feeling cold—not chilled to the bone like I had wanted, but filled with disappointment and indifference.
Nestled in the forests of northern New York situated in the Catskills is the small town of Chilewaukee and the calm, quiet waters of their reservoir nicknamed the Chill, which supplies water for millions of people living in the southern part of the state. Beneath its mirror-smooth surface though, lies a terrible history of violence and death. Evidence of that past can still be found in the ruins of Galesburg, lying flooded at the bottom of those clear waters, the final remnants of a town that didn’t go down without a fight. Nearly 80 years have passed since officials came up from the city and tried to force the townspeople out, prompting a fierce rebellion, but in the end, their efforts were all for naught. The Chilewaukee dam and reservoir were still constructed “for the greater good”, and Galesburg was drowned.
Now though, the once proud dam sports cracks and leaks, a result of decades of negligence and oversight. Enter Mick Fleming, chief engineer of the state’s water infrastructure, whose grandfather was also the architect behind the Chilewaukee dam. But while in town doing inspections, Mick spies a strange man lurking around in the woods, claiming to be a freelance journalist and photographer. Meanwhile, Chilewaukee’s sheriff Steve Ellsworth has his hands full with his son Aaron, a young man who hasn’t been quite the same since his mother died. Bounced out of the Coast Guard’s rigorous rescue swimming program for letting his temper get to him, Aaron returned to his hometown and immediately fell in with the wrong crowd, getting into drugs and drinking. Steve wishes very badly for Aaron to turn his life around, but when the day finally comes, it is not in the way the sheriff wanted or even dreamed could happen. The terrible incident brings officer Gillian Mathers of the Department of Environmental Protection Police to Chilewaukee, where she expected to deal with an accidental murder, but instead is faced with something far weirder. With ties to the drowned village of Galesburg herself, Gillian listens to Aaron’s wild, impossible report of what happened, while hiding the fact she knows more than she lets on.
This is the initial set up for the premise of The Chill, by thriller author Michael Koryta writing under the pseudonym Scott Carson. It had the potential for so much mystery, horror, and drama, and for the first half of the book, at least, the story delivered all that and more. At a certain point though, the storytelling takes a sharp nosedive, and the following are the reasons why I think this happened. One, as it sometimes happens with even the most experienced of authors, Carson decided to get a little too enthusiastic with sharing of information about the logistics and architectural challenges of building a damn dam. Yes, I get it—while doing prep work for their books, authors no doubt come across fascinating tidbits in their research all the time. Doesn’t mean the readers always want to hear about them though. It makes for dry reading, and here, it resulted in too many sections where pacing dragged, and the halted momentum caused the rest of the novel’s strengths to crumble along with its chances of being a great book.
Character development appeared to be an early casualty, as I thought another reason for the lackluster second half was absence of genuinely interesting personalities. The character I enjoyed reading about most also happened to be the most flawed, and that was Aaron, an angry and troubled young man whom I admittedly wanted to throttle from the first moment he showed up on the page. However, the first half saw him making great strides, though ultimately that progress was completely obliterated by the meandering narrative and overly complex dam history and mythology which followed. By the end of the book, there were few characters I connected with enough to care whether they made it out alive or not.
And finally, the heady atmosphere of eeriness and mystery present in the beginning was pretty much all gone by the halfway point. I’ve seen The Chill being compared to Stephen King, who apparently even provided a blurb and recommended it on social media, and in many respects I can even understand why some folks would draw similarities, especially in the novel’s supernatural elements. What it lacked, however, was the keen sense of dread that King does so well, the way he can maintain a high level of suspense so that even when the reader know exactly what’s coming, you’re kept on the edge of your seat. When the inevitable finally does come in The Chill though, there was no surprise or horror, just a sense of detachment as I watched the disaster play out with bored apathy.
Even the audiobook narrator couldn’t really save this one for me, even though John Bedford Lloyd is a great reader who has done a few other thrillers I enjoyed. His performance in The Chill was solid, but because of the way this novel was structured, I think it could have used multiple narrators which would have made the experience more immersive.
Overall, this was a book that had an amazing concept and lots of potential. Sadly, after a promising first half, things rapidly unraveled and in the end I was left feeling cold—not chilled to the bone like I had wanted, but filled with disappointment and indifference.
October 6, 2020
Thank you Atria and Emily Bestler Books for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Chill
By: Scott Carson
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
"There was no force on earth so determined and patient as water."
The Chill's amazing cover art caught my attention, but the synopsis hooked me. In my opinion, this is not a horror book. I would classify it is psychological/paranormal/ thriller. It is intensely eerie, dark and haunting. I love stories that have an atmospheric presence so palpable as to seem alive, which The Chill does, thus becoming its own character.
"The Chill is where old mythologies met modern engineering."
Basically, in 1940, in Torrance county, upstate New York, the creation of a reservoir (Chilewaukee-The Chill) for NYC is the catalyst for evacuation and flooding of the little town of Galesburg. In a twist of tragic irony, the connection of tunnels to the city were never completed, so Galesburg could have been spared. Now, the church and a few other Galesburg structures can be seen beneath The Dead Waters.
Numerous families vehemently refused to evacuate. I won't give details (no spoilers), but a bizarre and unsettling resolution eventually happened.
"They'd asked for so little. Just for the right to keep the land they'd fought for[...] They'd been denied that right in the interest of the greater good. The city wanted the water, and so the city would have it."
A legend/prophecy exists about Galesburg. Gillian has a connection to the town and knows its history well. She and Aaron are investigating strange unexplainable happenings that occured in the area of The Chill recently. Gillian explains the legend and history of Galesburg to Aaron.
(A suspension of disbelief is required fyi.) As events unfold, incomprehensible strangeness all around starts to unravel. Bits and pieces begin to make sense, and motives become clear. There are tragedies, some shocking, both big and small.
"Especially because the past isn't passive. What we are doing, what we are bound to, is the crucial work of making others look back. Making them remember."
Through it all, I like Gillian and Aaron more and more. From different worlds but very complimentary to each other, I wanted good things for them. The characters must decide what they believe, whom to trust and how to have faith in themselves Much is at stake.
The Chill is a long story, and it slows down for a lot of descriptions about dams, etc. I could have done without those parts. Otherwise, I found it unique, entertaining and thought provoking. There are bizarre elements, but they flow with the narrative. The odd makes the story more fun!
The Chill
By: Scott Carson
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
"There was no force on earth so determined and patient as water."
The Chill's amazing cover art caught my attention, but the synopsis hooked me. In my opinion, this is not a horror book. I would classify it is psychological/paranormal/ thriller. It is intensely eerie, dark and haunting. I love stories that have an atmospheric presence so palpable as to seem alive, which The Chill does, thus becoming its own character.
"The Chill is where old mythologies met modern engineering."
Basically, in 1940, in Torrance county, upstate New York, the creation of a reservoir (Chilewaukee-The Chill) for NYC is the catalyst for evacuation and flooding of the little town of Galesburg. In a twist of tragic irony, the connection of tunnels to the city were never completed, so Galesburg could have been spared. Now, the church and a few other Galesburg structures can be seen beneath The Dead Waters.
Numerous families vehemently refused to evacuate. I won't give details (no spoilers), but a bizarre and unsettling resolution eventually happened.
"They'd asked for so little. Just for the right to keep the land they'd fought for[...] They'd been denied that right in the interest of the greater good. The city wanted the water, and so the city would have it."
A legend/prophecy exists about Galesburg. Gillian has a connection to the town and knows its history well. She and Aaron are investigating strange unexplainable happenings that occured in the area of The Chill recently. Gillian explains the legend and history of Galesburg to Aaron.
(A suspension of disbelief is required fyi.) As events unfold, incomprehensible strangeness all around starts to unravel. Bits and pieces begin to make sense, and motives become clear. There are tragedies, some shocking, both big and small.
"Especially because the past isn't passive. What we are doing, what we are bound to, is the crucial work of making others look back. Making them remember."
Through it all, I like Gillian and Aaron more and more. From different worlds but very complimentary to each other, I wanted good things for them. The characters must decide what they believe, whom to trust and how to have faith in themselves Much is at stake.
The Chill is a long story, and it slows down for a lot of descriptions about dams, etc. I could have done without those parts. Otherwise, I found it unique, entertaining and thought provoking. There are bizarre elements, but they flow with the narrative. The odd makes the story more fun!
March 30, 2020
The Chill by Scott Carson is a horror novel.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Atria Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The town of Galesburg in up-state New York was flooded many years ago, to create the Chilewaukee reservoir that would send water pumping downstate to help millions of people. That's what the people of the town were told as their land was confiscated. It was political. It didn't sit well with many of the old-time residents, and some of them rebelled. They swore they would have revenge, no matter how long it took, nor how many lives.
Now, Mick Fleming has been called to inspect the Chilewaukee dam. His grandfather actually designed it. When he arrives, Mick sees a problem, and one of the old-timers sees an opportunity. The old-timers knew this day would come, and they have never stopped working. Living or dead, they are ready. Mick is ready too.
Meanwhile, Gillian Mathers, the great-granddaughter of one of the old-timers, works for the Department of the Environment and is also looking into the problem with the dam. She is seeing some strange things, as she remembers her childhood. Her father, DeShawn Ryan works on the tunnels underground in New York. He is seeing some strange things as well.
Then there is Aaron Ellsworth. All he wanted to do was to help people. After being kicked out of the Coast Guard, Aaron has lost his way. His father, the Sheriff, is insisting that Aaron goes to rehab. Aaron heads to The Chill one night to see if his training is still with him. What he sees will change his life forever.
My Opinions:
I really struggled with this one. I should have given up....but those that know me will know that I just can't. I kept waiting for that WOW moment, and it never came. Yes, it was a ghost story, but there was no horror, no scary moments. Just a very long tale of vengeance. Yes, some of the people were dead, but it didn't really matter.
The writing was clear, but way too detailed. The actual premise of the book sounded good - a supernatural force threatens New York. Somehow that premise got lost in all the water. Too much information about the dam, the tunnels, the water, the geography....
Anyway, I will probably be in the minority on this one, but it just didn't do anything other than frustrate me. Not every book is for every reader.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information and quotations), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
November 6, 2022
There was a place below the dam called a stilling basin, a sort of pond below the churning tailwaters, an area for the water to spread out in during flood season, to calm itself before it roared toward town. It was known as the Dead Waters because it was one of the few places where you could still see the remnants of the gutted, burned-out foundations of old Galesburg, which had been torched before the reservoir filled. Most of the area beneath the lake had been farm fields and isolated homesteads, but below the Dead Waters were the remains of an old town hall, two churches, and a school.
In a dry year, when the water was low and the sunlight slanted at the perfect angle, you could see the silhouettes of the ancient structures below, particularly one tenacious church steeple that reached for the reservoir's surface like it was trying to gasp a last breath.
Or grasp someone from above and pull them down below.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but pacing issues had the second half dragging - I agree with the other reviewers who've mentioned it's just too long. At the core though, is a great, creepy concept that's worth the effort to finish.
Surrounding the dam are a cast of characters with various links to it and the towns that lie below, either submerged or otherwise. Great characters, too, who felt easy to connect to, though for some I'd like to have seen more. As always with horror, the more you care the higher the tension, and for some I needed to have that built up more. The central 4 or 5, though, I was rooting for!
As I mentioned, that first half was fantastic - it moved around between characters and locations in a well-balanced loop that slowly circled the dam and pulled them all in closer to the ominously telegraphed day of reckoning. The tension built, but enough room was left that I wasn't sure if we were going the route of "bad guys win, everyone dies" or "heroic fuckup turns life around and saves day" - it genuinely could have gone either way, and plausibly. But the middle struggled with being a slog, and I actually ended up putting it down and having to read the first half again when I eventually picked it up to finish. It reinforced my good impression of the start, but it felt like an accomplishment to finish.
I would say it's worth the read to get through it, anyway - just look at how much I've written in this review, I never go on this long. I'd be interested in checking out this author again.
In a dry year, when the water was low and the sunlight slanted at the perfect angle, you could see the silhouettes of the ancient structures below, particularly one tenacious church steeple that reached for the reservoir's surface like it was trying to gasp a last breath.
Or grasp someone from above and pull them down below.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but pacing issues had the second half dragging - I agree with the other reviewers who've mentioned it's just too long. At the core though, is a great, creepy concept that's worth the effort to finish.
Surrounding the dam are a cast of characters with various links to it and the towns that lie below, either submerged or otherwise. Great characters, too, who felt easy to connect to, though for some I'd like to have seen more. As always with horror, the more you care the higher the tension, and for some I needed to have that built up more. The central 4 or 5, though, I was rooting for!
As I mentioned, that first half was fantastic - it moved around between characters and locations in a well-balanced loop that slowly circled the dam and pulled them all in closer to the ominously telegraphed day of reckoning. The tension built, but enough room was left that I wasn't sure if we were going the route of "bad guys win, everyone dies" or "heroic fuckup turns life around and saves day" - it genuinely could have gone either way, and plausibly. But the middle struggled with being a slog, and I actually ended up putting it down and having to read the first half again when I eventually picked it up to finish. It reinforced my good impression of the start, but it felt like an accomplishment to finish.
I would say it's worth the read to get through it, anyway - just look at how much I've written in this review, I never go on this long. I'd be interested in checking out this author again.
November 27, 2021
I was expecting this to be more of a horror, especially with Stephen King's endorsement and the fact that Michael Koryta was writing under a pen name.
The story itself is quite enjoyable and there's plenty of set up for some really chilling moments - it just seem surprising that the author held back on it.
Much of the novel consists of explanations of dams and the notion for flooding small towns to make reservoirs.
The flooding of Galesburg during the Second World War continues to be contentious decision both for the desendents and those that died that day.
The tunnels and infrastructure were both fascinatingly detailed and frustratingly long.
The spirits that inhabited them were my favourite parts.
If this had been billed as a slow burning supernatural thriller then I wouldn't have minded the bogged down infodump on water systems.
The story itself is quite enjoyable and there's plenty of set up for some really chilling moments - it just seem surprising that the author held back on it.
Much of the novel consists of explanations of dams and the notion for flooding small towns to make reservoirs.
The flooding of Galesburg during the Second World War continues to be contentious decision both for the desendents and those that died that day.
The tunnels and infrastructure were both fascinatingly detailed and frustratingly long.
The spirits that inhabited them were my favourite parts.
If this had been billed as a slow burning supernatural thriller then I wouldn't have minded the bogged down infodump on water systems.
February 16, 2020
The beginning of The Chill had a wonderfully dark and creepy tone. It was awesome, and I was excited for the ride I was about to take.
Unfortunately, the first 20% turned out to be more of a hook instead of a promise. The Chill got bogged down in information and turned into an entirely different book.
The reviews have been great for The Chill so I think most people will be able go along with the turns and changes, but I am terrible with broken promises. The Chill weighs in at 450 pages. Combine that with the struggle of the story not matching what I expected it to be, and it just turned into a tough read for me.
Review copy provided by publisher
Unfortunately, the first 20% turned out to be more of a hook instead of a promise. The Chill got bogged down in information and turned into an entirely different book.
The reviews have been great for The Chill so I think most people will be able go along with the turns and changes, but I am terrible with broken promises. The Chill weighs in at 450 pages. Combine that with the struggle of the story not matching what I expected it to be, and it just turned into a tough read for me.
Review copy provided by publisher
November 2, 2020
This is a really hard book to review!
I read it mostly based on the great review it received from the master of horror, Stephen King.
It’s a weird one, because although I stuck with it and finished it, I couldn’t actually tell you what it was about if you asked me.... because I didn’t really understand it at all!
It was quite King-Esque in its style and I think that’s why I persevered, but it was an odd story which left me thinking, what did I just read?
I wish I could write a more concise review but despite the fact that I’ve read some really weird stuff over the years, I don’t actually have a clue what this story was about and it did seem to really drag on.
I read it mostly based on the great review it received from the master of horror, Stephen King.
It’s a weird one, because although I stuck with it and finished it, I couldn’t actually tell you what it was about if you asked me.... because I didn’t really understand it at all!
It was quite King-Esque in its style and I think that’s why I persevered, but it was an odd story which left me thinking, what did I just read?
I wish I could write a more concise review but despite the fact that I’ve read some really weird stuff over the years, I don’t actually have a clue what this story was about and it did seem to really drag on.
July 15, 2020
I was given a free copy of this book through the Goodreads giveaway program. This does not in any way affect my opinion. I try to express only my most honest opinion in a spoiler-free way. Unfortunately, there is still always a risk of slight spoilers despite my best efforts. If you feel something in my review is a spoiler please let me know. Thank you.
I think I was expecting something different from this book. It's definitely more of a thriller than a horror which for me is not as good. I think it was only marked as horror because there are ghosts in the story, but it wasn't really scary at all. I found it a bit boring. It had its moments, but in general, the book's pace was really slow and I feel ended a bit on an anti-climactic note.
I think I was expecting something different from this book. It's definitely more of a thriller than a horror which for me is not as good. I think it was only marked as horror because there are ghosts in the story, but it wasn't really scary at all. I found it a bit boring. It had its moments, but in general, the book's pace was really slow and I feel ended a bit on an anti-climactic note.
April 25, 2021
An eerie, chilling, horror thriller that never lets up on the creeping suspense from page one. Well written with believable, well-defined characters and a gripping premise. Highly recommended.
The Chill, short for the Chilewaukee Reservoir, was built in the earlier 20th century. The small town of Galesburg was destroyed- flooded over so the reservoir and dam could be constructed. Many residents refused to leave, many died. Now a century later something is stirring, ominous rumblings are being heard. It seems the town of Galesburg is not willing to simply be a forgotten part of history. Now the town of Torrance, downstream from the Chill, may need to answer for the sins of the past. Evil always flows downstream.
The Chill, short for the Chilewaukee Reservoir, was built in the earlier 20th century. The small town of Galesburg was destroyed- flooded over so the reservoir and dam could be constructed. Many residents refused to leave, many died. Now a century later something is stirring, ominous rumblings are being heard. It seems the town of Galesburg is not willing to simply be a forgotten part of history. Now the town of Torrance, downstream from the Chill, may need to answer for the sins of the past. Evil always flows downstream.
April 13, 2021
Don't be fooled by the cover that says this is a thriller. It's straight up horror and a compelling read.
October 27, 2019
THE CHILL (written under a nom de plume) is one extraordinary novel: Supernatural thriller, family dysfunction, average small-town in contrast with highly dysfunctional cultish village. No need for suspension of Disbelief: I leaped immediately into the story on Page 1, and I devoured every bit of it without a pause. The story is so "real" I seemed to be living it, not reading it.
The "Chill" is an Upstate New York dam and reservoir, initially intended to provide water supply to New York City, but instead left as surplus to requirements. Unfortunately its construction came at the cost of submerging a village, and herein lies the tale. I've been fascinated by "drowned communities" since reading Stuart Woods' novel UNDER THE LAKE in the latter 1980's, and I will probably always be simultaneously fascinated abd repelled by such examples of human greed and cupidity.
The "Chill" is an Upstate New York dam and reservoir, initially intended to provide water supply to New York City, but instead left as surplus to requirements. Unfortunately its construction came at the cost of submerging a village, and herein lies the tale. I've been fascinated by "drowned communities" since reading Stuart Woods' novel UNDER THE LAKE in the latter 1980's, and I will probably always be simultaneously fascinated abd repelled by such examples of human greed and cupidity.
March 21, 2022
3.75 stars rounded up. The Chill by Scott Carson (pseudonym for author Michael Kortya) was a sometimes creepy, slow burn supernatural mystery that I mostly enjoyed. I found myself not really connecting to any of the characters, and it felt like the plot was a little lacking in some way (I just wanted more, idk), but otherwise I had no major complaints. I think it could be cool to see a sequel one day expanding on the lore that was set up in this story (I think that’s where I felt it was mostly lacking, it was a great idea but I just wanted more), but I’m still satisfied with this as a standalone. I will definitely be checking out Scott’s newest though!
January 29, 2021
Review to follow, I actually give 3 1/2 stars but Goodreads doesn't allow half stars.
January 29, 2023
Book Blog | Bookstagram
Basically, the small village of Galesburg in Upstate New York was flooded a century ago to create the Chilewaukee reservoir – nicknamed The Chill – to provide water to millions of southern New Yorkers. Of course, Galesburg residents weren’t super psyched to have their hometown put underwater, which is totally understandable, but there wasn’t much they could do about it. But that didn’t mean the townsfolk would go down without a fight. They banded together, starting a fierce rebellion that promised to kick ass and get revenge, no matter how many lives were lost along the way.
But, you know, government versus village rebellion means the government won.
Years later, the dam is leaking and cracking. Enter Mick Fleming, chief engineer of the state’s water infrastructure. And if anything screams, “this novel is going to be exciting!” it’s a main character that oversees a state’s water infrastructure.
The second POV is that of Aaron Ellsworth, the son of the Sherriff of Chilewaukee who was kicked out of the Coast Guards because of his violent anger. He's now stumbled onto a path of drugs and bad crowds. When he ends up at The Chill to test his Coast Guard training out one more time, he ends up seeing and doing some strange shit that will change his life, not necessarily for the better.
What happens to Aaron brings out Gillian Mathers, who works for the Department of Environmental Protection and has ties to Galesburg. She’s expecting to investigate a dead body at The Chill, but when she starts seeing strange shit and listens to Aaron’s tale of what he claims really happened, the case turns into something much weirder.
Now we’ve got a water infrastructure engineer, a fired coast guard junkie and the environmental protection lady. It’s a PARTY.
The setup of the novel took for-fucking-ever to get through. The author goes hog-wild on sharing every detail about building dams, tunnels, water infrastructure (I never want to type that word again) and geography and pardon the pun, but I didn’t really give a damn. It was too much. The pacing of this novel is totally fucking submerged (the puns just keep coming) because of the abundance of details that were not necessary for a thriller/horror. Maybe an engineering textbook? I am not here to learn about building a dam, I’m here for the fucking ghosts.
This had a lot of potential in the mystery and horror department based on the synopsis, but it was so boring that I considered DNFing it multiple times.
Honestly, I have no idea why I didn’t give up.
Yes, there were ghosts hellbent on revenge, but the horror elements were non-existent or drowned out by endless paragraphs of details and explanations. It didn’t really matter what scary stuff might have been going on.
This book clearly has an audience, judging by the ratings elsewhere, but that audience does not include me.
The author is technically – in every sense of the word – a really good writer, but this was boring, over-detailed and missed the mark. Really, I’m starting to think this was actually a secret textbook on the engineering of dams. But I’m not falling for it! I’ll never be a dam engineer! Never!
⭐⭐ | 2 stars
Basically, the small village of Galesburg in Upstate New York was flooded a century ago to create the Chilewaukee reservoir – nicknamed The Chill – to provide water to millions of southern New Yorkers. Of course, Galesburg residents weren’t super psyched to have their hometown put underwater, which is totally understandable, but there wasn’t much they could do about it. But that didn’t mean the townsfolk would go down without a fight. They banded together, starting a fierce rebellion that promised to kick ass and get revenge, no matter how many lives were lost along the way.
But, you know, government versus village rebellion means the government won.
Years later, the dam is leaking and cracking. Enter Mick Fleming, chief engineer of the state’s water infrastructure. And if anything screams, “this novel is going to be exciting!” it’s a main character that oversees a state’s water infrastructure.
The second POV is that of Aaron Ellsworth, the son of the Sherriff of Chilewaukee who was kicked out of the Coast Guards because of his violent anger. He's now stumbled onto a path of drugs and bad crowds. When he ends up at The Chill to test his Coast Guard training out one more time, he ends up seeing and doing some strange shit that will change his life, not necessarily for the better.
What happens to Aaron brings out Gillian Mathers, who works for the Department of Environmental Protection and has ties to Galesburg. She’s expecting to investigate a dead body at The Chill, but when she starts seeing strange shit and listens to Aaron’s tale of what he claims really happened, the case turns into something much weirder.
Now we’ve got a water infrastructure engineer, a fired coast guard junkie and the environmental protection lady. It’s a PARTY.
The setup of the novel took for-fucking-ever to get through. The author goes hog-wild on sharing every detail about building dams, tunnels, water infrastructure (I never want to type that word again) and geography and pardon the pun, but I didn’t really give a damn. It was too much. The pacing of this novel is totally fucking submerged (the puns just keep coming) because of the abundance of details that were not necessary for a thriller/horror. Maybe an engineering textbook? I am not here to learn about building a dam, I’m here for the fucking ghosts.
This had a lot of potential in the mystery and horror department based on the synopsis, but it was so boring that I considered DNFing it multiple times.
Honestly, I have no idea why I didn’t give up.
Yes, there were ghosts hellbent on revenge, but the horror elements were non-existent or drowned out by endless paragraphs of details and explanations. It didn’t really matter what scary stuff might have been going on.
This book clearly has an audience, judging by the ratings elsewhere, but that audience does not include me.
The author is technically – in every sense of the word – a really good writer, but this was boring, over-detailed and missed the mark. Really, I’m starting to think this was actually a secret textbook on the engineering of dams. But I’m not falling for it! I’ll never be a dam engineer! Never!
⭐⭐ | 2 stars
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