A strange creature lurks between the pines of Forest Street.

Since the deadly DUI that ruined his life, Curtis Reynolds has long since struggled with sleep deprivation, debt, a failing marriage, and, frankly, justifying his own existence. But when his elderly neighbor is murdered, the Gulf War Veteran returns home to Forest Street, where a dangerous encounter sends him spiraling.

Battling insomnia and PTSD induced visions, Curtis begins an investigation of a mysterious monster, falling down a rabbit hole of folk mythology, government conspiracy, and ghosts from his past that threaten to destroy his fragile psyche and, possibly, all he holds dear.

Goodreads Synopsis

Overall Rating

3/5

Spooky Rating

3/5

Quick Take

The Street Between the Pines by J.J. Alo is a debut horror novel that will appeal to fans of classic and Southern horror. It features classic horror elements – such as terrifying monsters and brutal kills – but it is a quiet form of horror that slowly gets under your skin. If you enjoy Southern New England horror, you can’t miss this one!

Tell Me More

I am a big fan of Southern horror, which is why I was so excited when I came across The Street Between the Pines. It is hard to find horror that is both classic and Southern, but this novel was like a neat little package of both.

The Street Between the Pines features all of the necessary classic horror elements, such as scary monsters and bad organizations. The kills were also gory and brutal, which added a splatterpunk element. However, the novel also addresses mental health and illness such as PTSD and insomnia. I enjoyed how Alo combined old and new elements combined in the novel, as it made for a unique story.

Unfortunately, Curtis – the main character – was unlikable and the descriptions were far too extensive. These elements took away from my enjoyment of the novel, and the gory elements were lost in the over-descriptive writing. If this novel were edited down, I would give it a much higher rating, because I think it would make the horror elements shine.

The Street Between the Pines by J.J. Alo is an important addition to the South New England horror sub-genre, and with some editing, it would sparkle. However, fans of South and classic horror are sure to get a kick out of this novel, and I look forward to the next book in the series!

Do You Recommend This Book?

Absolutely! It is an excellent, classic horror read for those who like Southern horror.