Where They Wait: A Novel

Wow! This is one awesome book! Burned through it in less than a day! When Nick goes back to his hometown in Maine for what he thinks is a job offered by an old friend, he's in for one rough time. He's a laid off journalist, writing a PR piece for a company called Clarity. What's Clarity? It's an app. One of the many that helps people relax and sleep. But, there's more to this app than serenity and sleep. It changes a person. Especially Nick, because Nick is different. He doesn't dream...ever! Beware of what you download... You never know!!!

It is not often that I truly rejoice in finding a new author (new to me). Now is one of those instances. When you realize that you can be sure you have a number of books to read that will not disappoint. This novel was well ahead of itself, if you get my meaning. The perfect mix of all the good stuff, and refreshingly intriguing in suggestions of understanding the deepest of one of the few mysteries left: the human mind. A real page-turner, will keep you late into the night. And sometimes it is perhaps best to wait for the dawn.

In a market flooded with conventional thriller narratives, 'Where They Wait' by Scott Carson (alias of acclaimed author Michael Koryta) effervesces as an exhilarating and meticulous techno-thriller that should not be overlooked. A marvellous tale that shouldn't logically work but astonishingly impresses with its steady, flawless execution, it invites readers into a world where technology and mystery intertwine seamlessly.

'Where They Wait' showcases Carson's innovative craft at its finest. His ability to transform a seemingly ordinary story into an utterly unexpected, blood-tingling thriller is an attribute readers will undoubtedly praise. The narrative flows immaculately from sentence to sentence, chapter to chapter, building tension and sending chills down your spine with every page turned.

At the heart of the book is a streaming service, known as "Ghost Story," that breeds an uncanny connection with the supernatural. This simple yet intriguing concept lends a chilling new angle to technology-themed thrillers. Its curation of horror stories becomes anything but fictitious entertainment, opening a gateway to an unknown, obscure realm that will chill you to the bone.

The character development complements the unsettling storyline with utter precision. The narrative's key players - wracked by their haunting pasts and trapped in a dreadful maze of personal demons and deadly apparitions - masterfully evoke empathy while thrilling readers with their unpredictable decisions.

What sets 'Where They Wait' apart is Carson's intelligent blending of techno-thriller and supernatural elements. The book flawlessly captures the disturbing undercurrents of our digital age, combined with the primal fear of the supernatural, creating an unnerving cocktail of suspense and horror. Carson's expertise ensures you never see the twists and turns coming, and every revelation leaves you hopes yet hesitant to turn the page.

In conclusion, 'Where They Wait,' is a techno-thriller par excellence. With its flawless execution of a daringly innovative idea, relatable characters, and thrilling plot twists, it offers a truly captivating reading escape. Despite the insurmountable odds, Scott Carson triumphs in creating a heart-stopping thriller that takes you on a terrifying and exciting journey. This alone makes 'Where They Wait' an unmissable read for every thriller enthusiast.

While not a out and out scary novel, this is a slow creepy burn. You get just a touch of supernatural things mixed into a very realistic reality. Very likable characters and a solid plot with excellent storytelling made this a pleasure to read. Ill go as far to admit that this story made its way into my dreams. To me, that's pretty cool , tells me I just read something that registered with me.

The book started well, but became plodding and grew increasingly disorganized. There was no real depth to the characters. I keep thinking I going to relate to Nick, but then his personna seemed to shift. Not a lot, just enough to pull you back away from the story. As the book progresses, the continuity dissolves. But the end, I felt the author had just given up and didn't care. I've never thought that before.

It is a shame too. The premise has potential. I wanted the story to work. More aggressive editing would have helped.

I wanted to like this novel very much, especially after reading Stephen King's recommendation. I thought then (and still think) that the premise is fascinating--sleep/mindfulness apps that--a la Pied Piper--could be used to manipulate users' minds into self-destructive or other terroristic behaviors to advance some evil end. But Carlson's story very soon devolves into horror porn replete with ghostly trappings (loon calls and fogs that only the protagonist could hear or see) and zombie imagery associated with nightmares. I also couldn't figure out antagonist Bryce Lermond's motivation. What end did he hope to achieve with this seemingly harmless sleep app which leads very quickly to the user's death? Clearly he wanted power--but power to achieve what, and why does he have such an evil heart in the first place? I mean, I can see the screwed up potential for unethical mind control if the protagonist is a closet psychopath or a Putin-like dictator, but certainly it would need to be more nuanced and psychologically sophisticated than the Clarity app of this novel, and one with a less suspicious one-size-fits-all outcome (a gruesome death resulting from stepping off a high point, smashing into dangerous rocks below and ending up in some hellish underwater "purgatorium"). The app (AI-based perhaps) should also take over a person's mind gradually--not just after the first use. The horror should subtly "sneak up" on the readers, not hit them in the face like a load of bricks. The senseless and convoluted freak show that this novel ultimately becomes (and really, what was with all that French Acadian backstory involving the spooky death-ship Arabella?) just was not my cup of hemlock. I was very disappointed to say the least. "While We Wait" is not worth the wait, I'm sad to say.