Highway to Hell [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

Background:

Marcus is a cop. Becky is a crack whore. Helen is a manicurist. Sammy is a construction worker. Richard is a playboy. Graham is an old man. They all come from different backgrounds. They live in different countries and even at different times. Unfortunately, they are all dead. Except, what seems to be the end is only the beginning.

Strangers to each other, these people meet in the most horrific place imaginable - Hell. One by one, they are forced to face their past and admit to their sins. And when this is done, they are sentenced to spend eternity in various torture chambers (this is where you, dear reader, get a chance to relive gore, and I suspect that some fans of Stephen King might appreciate it.)

The tortures seem to be never ending until one day all of the strangers are pulled out of Hell by unknown forces and sent on a quest (no more no less) but to save the world. Their rescuers appear to be angels. But don't get too excited! These are not your ordinary angels. If you thought that Hell is a pretty straightforward place, think again!

What I liked:

1. Horror. It is a horror novel all right. And let me tell you that you get plenty of detailed, gory, picturesque horror that might turn your stomach. If you like horror, this book is for you.

2. Characters. All of the characters are flawed, none of them are perfect. This is what makes them so... human. Nicely done, Alex!

3. Hell. Alex's version of Hell will bring your worst fears to life. His Hell is an endless Spanish inquisition in action.

What I am not thrilled about:

1. Fast pace, slow pace. Sometimes the story moves fast, keeping you on the edge of your seat, fascinating you with its intensity. And then... it slows down, making you wonder why such a slow pace and overwhelmingly detailed narrative.

2. POV. I like when a scene is told from one POV. The author, however, switches POVs quite a bit. Fortunately for a reader, it does not become confusing.

Conclusion:

Highway to Hell was a good but a long read. If the story was shorter by about 20%, it would be priceless.

Appropriateness: Rated R with some vivid descriptions of torture.

I enjoyed it but I didn't love it.

Highway to Hell reminded me of Clive Barker's Books of Blood series 1-3. It was very well-written, and delved into the realms of what happens when you land in hell after you die. Each character goes through their own version of hell, and each is worse than the previous.

If you like horror (graphic horror), then this book is definitely to be read. But be prepared; the author can write VERY graphic scenes. These are the kinds of books I love to read, ever since I was little. My parents let me read whatever I wanted, and I chose horror, hands-down. :-)

I didn't find this book slow at all. It was nicely paced, and fun to read.

I can't wait for the next book of this up-and-coming writer.

What happens when you die? If you have the slightest of indiscretions that you might have done on this earth, it seems as if you go to the darkest of darkest places...

The book starts out with us meeting Marcus, Becky, Richard, Helen, Sammy and Graham--people who have just passed away in whatever form or another. Marcus is a cop who was trying to help Becky and her baby to get away from her pimp, and Richard was a player who just wanted women for sex and nothing else. Helen worked in a salon, Sammy was in an accident with his girlfriend and Graham was just old. Even though they were "good" people, regrets and past mistakes have brought them to a bad place...a place no one would ever go to willingly.

As they are tortured day after day (or what feels like years to them) by their own demons, they realize the errors of their ways, admitting that they had done wrong by others, and even by themselves.

Each of the people are in their own separate Hell's, but somehow get out of their Hell's. Marcus, Becky and Helen meet up in a room, Graham and Sammy end up in another. The first question you ask yourself is, will they ever get out of these rooms? And what is the purpose of their meeting up with each other?

As the story progresses, Marcus, Becky, Helen, Graham and Sammy end up togther. They meet some archangels who send them on a quest.

What is this quest that they need to fulfil? Where is Richard in all of this? Will they redeem themselves, forgive themselves and be forgiven enough to be sent somewhere a little nicer?

Although horror isn't exactly my personal favourite, this one I did enjoy. It was very, very dark at the beginning, mellowing out a bit half-way through it, although the darkness continues/remains. What the individual's demon is brings a new darkness to the story for each person. I can't imagine being in any of their Hells.

Each of the character's story's at the beginning of the book could have been made into individual short stories, an anthology of sorts. Each person had died with their own demons to bear, but somehow manage to find each other. Why? And, how? You'll have to read the book to find out.

There were a lot of spelling/missing words throughout the novel, however it read well. My only beef is that the book didn't end, meaning that there is a follow-up book to this one...meaning, you'll have to wait to see what happens next.

If you like the dark and are not afraid of torture and Hell, then you will enjoy this book. 5 stars!