What a fantastic story by Alex Mura!!! Well written and had what I thought was an unexpected little twist at the end.

We meet Hank, a widowed truck driver, on his way to deliver a load to California. He is heading down Highway 50 and decides to stay a night at an out-of the way motel. He has heard of the several disappearances along the highway, but doesn't worry himself about it.

He meets Mal...a stranger at the motel...but is he?

I'm not gonna spoil the rest but let me say this....we will go on a depraved and twisted ride with Hank and Mal and an another unfortunate victim, Sara.

I definitely recommend!!!

"Silence in the Basement" is the gripping debut novel of author Alex Mura. In it, we follow Hank, a man reeling from a family tragedy. The only solace he has left is his car and the road in front of him. While driving on the highway one night, Hank decides to stop and spend the night at a local motel, ignoring disturbing warnings about people going missing along the highway. This proves to be a fateful decision for him, as he is quickly attacked, subdued, and kidnapped by the motel owner, who turns out to be serial killer with cannibalistic tendencies. Waking up in a basement, Hank meets Sara, a fellow kidnappee who happens to be our other main character. Realizing the danger they're in, they connect with each other as they await their imminent deaths. Little do they know, their captor has other plans for them. Bloodier, nastier plans. What follows is a desperate fight for survival, with gore and twists aplenty and a climax as disgusting as it is shocking.

I felt that the characters were especially strong in this story. In extreme horror novels like this one, the characters tend to suffer from being one-note--bland meat-sacks just waiting for the killer to splatter them across the floor. Hank and Sara were a refreshing break from that unfortunate trope. Both had their own stories, their own motivations, and their own personalities. Mura successfully made characters you really felt for and liked--ones your genuinely wanted to see survive. The villains were effectively scary, brutal, and easy to hate. I usually have a strong stomach for violence and gore, but there were parts in this story that made me gag from the details on the page. Finally, despite its short length, the story is well-thought-out and well-executed. I can happily say that Mura made full use of the story he wanted to tell. All-in-all, "Silence in the Basement" is a hell of a ride--a deliciously depraved monster that grabs you by the throat, punches you in the gut, and drags you along the viscera-soaked floor all the way to the very end, bloody fingernails and all. If you're an extreme horror fan, don't miss out on this one. Trust me. You'll regret it.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

I honestly didn’t think this story was going to get as detailed as gory as it did. Also, the fact that this is the authors debut novel is shocking!!! Hank is a truck driver who is driving from Texas to California to drop off a delivery. He ends up getting a room at a motel during his route to get some sleep. What he didn’t expect was to get kidnapped and fight for his life. I have read some pretty wild things but I have never had to stop in the middle of reading a book because I got grossed out, so if you are squeamish this is not the book for you!! This is definitely under the horror genre and it did not disappoint! I look forward to seeing what else this author writes in the future!

The story kept me engaged and intrigued, with wonderfully disgusting moments. It was a quick, maddeningly terrifying read about cannibalism. "Silence in the Basement" exposed vulnerability in morality and ethics, forcing me to finish by sheer will. It ended well, revealing sickening truths. It's not for everyone, but it can help break fear of extreme horror. The main character, Hank Griffin, is a solitary truck driver who gets caught up in a terrible decision at a hotel. There are extremely gruesome parts, so it's not for the faint of heart. I would love to see a part two to find out what happens next.

This book is not for the faint of heart.

One of the most twisted thrillers I have ever read.

The twists and turns were unexpected and I could not believe the ending!

Parts of the book made me feel quite uneasy but I didn’t want to stop reading because I needed to know what happened to these characters.

Since losing his wife and daughter, all Hank has left in life is his truck Midnight and the open road. After being warned that people are going missing along Route 50, Hank stops for the night at a motel. Being 54, Hank thinks he is out of harms way. He couldn't be more wrong....

As the story progresses, you experience Hank's emotions and declining mental intregity as he is forced to witness and do things he never dreamed of. All the while, he is trying to save himself and his companion, Sara.

For this being the author's first book, I think it was very well done. He took 3 characters, 2 rooms, and a twisted religion and turned it into a rivetting story. It was fast-paced, claustrophobic, demented, and gory. All the best qualities of a good horror story. Oh, did I mention the cannibalism?

Thank you to NetGalley and Alex Mura for this ARC! I can't wait to see what is next!

This was such a dark read and I loved it. As the story went on I became more gripped as the darkness intensified

This book had so much going for it in the beginning. It felt like it could be a real standout, even if it was a bit predictable at times. The initial setup with the cannibalistic themes, kidnapping, single setting, and the psychopath had me intrigued. I was expecting a higher rating based on the premise, but my feelings changed as the story unfolded. It veered into cliché territory and got a bit too fixated on nothing but blood; lots of blood.
It just felt like too much and not enough at the same time. The characters, especially Hank, were really well-developed and made you want to root for them, but boy was I wrong. That ending totally soured the whole experience for me. It went from a solid high rating to just feeling like a complete letdown.

One of the most jarring aspects was how Hank's character changed so abruptly. His sudden violent thoughts and actions didn’t align with how he was initially portrayed. This inconsistency made it hard to stay engaged with his character and undermined the story's credibility.

Also, I don't think bringing religion into why Malcolm (Mal) does what he does was appropriate; it just felt very wrong to me. The book does delve into some pretty gruesome details, so if you're a bit squeamish, just a heads up.

The ending left me more disgusted than anything else in the book, and that’s saying something. Hank treating Sara like his daughter and then suddenly having a sexual moment with her was just bizarre. The 36-year age gap only made it more unsettling. It completely threw off the dynamic they had going on. It felt like the author added it in for shock value rather than contributing meaningfully to the story. The relationship was fine as it was before that scene, and the sex should’ve never happened. Plus, Sara’s complaints about how embarrassing it is to still be a virgin at 18 were just absurd. Girl, you okay? Pretty sure you had bigger problems to worry about.

Despite these issues, there were some strong points. The villain was well-crafted, and the descriptions of gore were effective and added to the horror element. The quick pace of the story kept it engaging, even when the plot started to falter.

In conclusion, while the book had some strong points, the jarring and out-of-place scenes, along with character inconsistencies, made it difficult for me to fully enjoy. It's a mixed bag—there's potential, but it's overshadowed by some significant flaws.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First, many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this one.
I love a good horror movie and really thought I would enjoy this. It left me a little flat. For me, just seemed a little too over the top gory.
What happens when Hank, a lonely truck driver is kidnapped by a sadistic killer? Thrown in the basement with Sara, a kidnapped girl.
The storyline was good, I just did not like how Hank changed or some of the things that happened between him and Sara.
Gory fan lovers will enjoy this more than I did.

The writing style took me a while to get into. So that was a bit frustrating. But this book, man, it's on a whole other level if horror. It delves into cannibalism and people that you never want to run into. Prepare yourself, this book cuts no corners on the gruesomeness of its subjects.

Firstly, a huge thank you to the publisher, Hanabi Press, the author, Alex Mura, and NetGalley for the privilege of the digital advanced reader’s copy of Silence In the Basement, which I read in a couple sittings as it was a quick and page-turning read. Review posted to Goodreads, and will also be posted on Amazon.

Silence In the Basement is a horror novel with a main character who finds himself kidnapped, and what happens from there will likely shock you. From a first time author, I thought this was a frighteningly strong debut.

I enjoyed the horror aspects of the novel, and they were well done. The action was well-paced and interesting. The tension was built in a bit of a predictable way, but sometimes even when I expect violence, it always surprises me. The villain is definitely scary, and I will say that if you are squeamish or anxious about blood and gore, this one might be one to skip. If that interests you, this will be up your alley. The first person perspective really allows you to feel the fear Hank feels, to be in his brain and identify with his hopelessness.

However, there were some moments I felt could have been woven together a little better. At times, the narrator’s voice felt a little predictable and expected, and I would’ve liked to have maybe some personality aspects to Hank that were unexpected or out of character. While his willpower to survive is commendable, I didn’t find too much growth or change throughout the book. I didn’t get too attached to him or his outcome, to be honest, as much as I thought the story was a page-turner.

As someone who’s watched a lot of horror movies, this one felt very genre-fulfilling to me, but didn’t bring a huge amount to the table in terms of anything new or fascinating. I also think more thorough descriptions of scenery could really transport the reader. I do think Alex Mura has a lot of talent in plotting and pacing that I’d be interested to see further explored.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys quick horror reads, character-focused stories, stories about solitude and loneliness, willpower, gory tales, scary books, thrillers, and psychological thrillers!

“Silence In The Basement” by Alex Mura is a gripping and gory 5-star read! The main character, Hank Griffin, is a solitary truck driver who gets stopped by the cops and warned about missing people along Route 50. Hank decides to rest for the night at a hotel down the road, which turns out to be a terrible decision for him.

This story is well-written with some extremely gruesome parts. Told from Hank’s perspective, you really get into his head and understand his feelings about the other two characters in the story. You get to know Hank well along the way, and we see how far he will go for his freedom. There are a couple of scenes that are extreme, so this is not for the faint of heart. I would love to see a part two to find out what happens next with these characters.

Thanks to Hanabi Press, Alex Mura, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

🌟3.75

Well, this book was something!

There were some aspects I really loved. I enjoy a bit of gore, and this book was absolutely full of it.

I also thought the characters, especially Hank, were well-rounded and likeable. They felt very human, with both positive and negative traits, which I very much enjoyed.

I got into the story pretty quickly and was eager to see what would happen next.

Unfortunately, the more I read, the less impressed I became. I didn't enjoy the religious elements and the stereotypical links with the Church of Satan.

The ending was both clever and gory, but it also left me wanting more. There were loose ends that were never really tied up.

Overall, it's an enjoyable read for those who aren't afraid of gore, with threads of cannibalism for good measure but don't expect anything ground breaking either.

Thank you to Alex Mura, the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. My review is my own.

It started off promising, but the last 1/3 made this book go from 3 stars to 1 for me. The writing style was too simplistic and wishy-washy. For example, the first few paragraphs the main character says he craves conversation, the next paragraph he says he doesn’t want to talk with anyone. It almost seemed like the author would forget what he previously wrote and just try to fill in words to make the book longer. The dialogue was not very believable for the situation. (I also hate to be that person, but the last 1/3 of this book, you could tell a man wrote it). There were some unnecessary and random “scenes” that took from the main storyline and did not add anything to it, but then a lot of loose ends left unsaid. I felt I came into this blind as the description did not mention what you were in for. If you have triggers, reader beware. I will say, I was not expecting splatter-punk horror.
Some positives: I liked the beginning suspense and how quick the book was. There was no flowery writing, so you just flew through the situations. The main character is overall likable if not extremely naive. As it was the author’s first novel, hopefully he’ll use feedback to build a stronger second novel.

This was a first book by this author! I thought it was very good and his imagination was fantastic!
It was a little gore to me but that didn't bother me too much.

It was a excellent read and it was never a dull moment.

Great job!

A little roadside hotel holds some dark secrets. Hank, a truck driver, will soon find out the truth behind the disappearances that have been happening in the area.

This book was very well written and I really enjoyed the authors writing style. The story itself was captivating and I could not stop reading! The only complaint I have is that I would have liked to have more information on what happened to the main characters in the end, but maybe it was left open ended to leave room for a second book. I definitely look forward to reading more of this authors work in the future.

I just want to add that there are a few triggers to be warned of:
-Violence
-Hostage/kidnapping
-Cannibalism
-Dismemberment

Hank Griffin was just another traveler along Route 50 when an officer pulls him officer pulls him over and checks his license and registration. Hank thought he was being pulled over for something he did, but no. The office was investigating the multiple disappearances of people that have traveled along that very route and that, if the truck driver saw or heard anything related to call it in. He was sure he didn’t fit the description of the type: young travelers in cars having been left along the road. He just needed to get to California with his haul and then take a much needed vacation. When the Eldorado Motel was recommended as a pit stop for a quick rest stop, that was the turning point when Hank’s life would never be the same ever again.

I couldn’t put this book down because the pacing was really good. Like I needed to know what was going to happen next. Everything was paced so well that I can totally see this being done as a movie. There’s just enough gore in the details that makes this book the horror fiction it’s meant to be. The character Sara helped bring things together from the point after Hank was brought in on all this and she is a key figure to it all. I can’t say why so you’ll need to get your hands on a copy to find out. If you’re a fan of crime thriller suspense, this is definitely up your alley.

Blurb: Hank's planned one-night stay at a weathered motel turns sideways when he is attacked by its cannibalistic owner. Having awakened in a cold, damp basement, he expects that he and another victim, Sara, will soon be killed. But to their surprise, their captor has other plans. He lets them live, attempting to manipulate them into accepting a life with him.

What a wild ride this was for a debut novel by Alex Mura. ⚠️Don't read if you're squeamish! As there are a lot of violent descriptions. Every so often, I feel like reading a hard core horror and 'Silence in the Basement' quenched my appetite...if you read this, you'll note the disgusting pun just used🤢

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

This started out pretty promising, even if it was a little predictable. After the halfway mark it just got way too cliché and bloodbloodblood and with the weird religious aspect mixed in it was all too much.
The characters were well-built, Hank was likeable and makes you wanna root for him. This was a bit too gory and splatter for me.