The Long Weekend
by Savita Kalhan
Publisher: Andersen Press Ltd (Nov. 2008)
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Format: Paperback (180 pages)
Source: Review Request by Author
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 stars)
Sam knows that he and his friend Lloyd made a colossal mistake when they accepted the ride home. They have ended up in a dark mansion in the middle of nowhere with a man who means to harm them. But Sam doesn’t know how to get them out. They were trapped, then separated. Now they are alone. Will either of them get out alive? This gripping and hypnotic thriller will have you reading late into the night. ~ Add on Goodreads
At a Glance
It took me quite some time to get into this book, but once I did I enjoyed it and all its creepy glory.
The Good
After accepting a ride home from a stranger, Sam and Lloyd find themselves trapped in a mansion by a deviant madman. With Lloyd catatonic with fear, it’s up to Sam to get them out of this mess. If only there wasn’t a twenty foot fence keeping them within the property and within the kidnapper’s grasp.
The Long Weekend was pretty good once it got going. It became very intense once Sam realized that this strange man was not there to entertain them but to do horrible, unspeakable things to them. His best friend Lloyd, being too trusting, lets the stranger separate them into two different rooms, and that’s when things really go downhill. Barely escaping the madman’s demented plans, Sam is now on a mission to find Lloyd and get them out before they both get killed.
I really respected Sam for his tenacity and bravery, especially since he is only 11 years old. He takes charge, risking his life to save his friend and trying to find a way out of their ordeal. Even when Lloyd withdraws into himself, Sam never leaves him behind. His resourcefulness was astounding. Without Sam’s strong determination, I don’t think either boy would have had a chance of surviving.
I was truly scared for both the boys. We knew so little about the man that took them that I didn’t know what to expect from him. This book really plays on your emotions. I went from anxious, to sickened, to hopeful, then aggravated as the story went on. And the ending was perfect. Nothing was left unanswered, it wrapped things up 100%. I still have chills just thinking back to this book.
The Bad
I read the first 3 pages and put this book down and did not pick it up for about a week. I know this is not a YA book but the main character is 11 years old so the writing is very childlike since we are in his point of view. It made it very hard to get into the story. Also, there was way too much backstory in the beginning. I get why Kalhan did it that way, but it really gave a bad first impression.
The Snuggly
This book contains implied child molestation, nothing graphic but very unsettling.
Overall
The Long Weekend was a powerful and shocking read once it got to the meat of the story. Sometimes it was hard to take, knowing what these boys were going through, but it happens in real life so it’s not unrealistic. This thriller was a quick read that left me breathless. Recommended for horror/thriller readers.
“Fear made you cold. It made you tremble. Anger made you hot. It made you want to hurt someone.”
Sarah Elizabeth
Oh dear, child molestation? Can’t read that. Just seeing the titles on books like ‘daddy don’t hurt me’ and stuff makes me feel sick! It’s good that it wasn’t overdone or anything though!
Makes you think twice about hitch hiking though doesn’t it?!
Jennifer L. Bielman
I know, it was pretty hard for me to read that. But it was a good book, but not for everyone, that’s for sure.
Christine (Rainy Day Reads)
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Rainy Day Reads
http://www.rainydayreads.com
Jennifer L. Bielman
Thanks so much.
Elisa
I like a good thriller here and there. I haven’t heard of this one and will have to look this one up. Nice review. 🙂
Jennifer L. Bielman
Yeah, I read horror/thriller books every once in a while. I won this book in a giveaway that requested that I do a review. It was interesting, that’s for sure.