4 stars

Curtis Reynolds is struggling - PTSD from an earlier accident is affecting his job, his homelife, everything. The insomnia and hallucinations are certainly not helping things either. Curtis comes home for a short furlough, only to discover his next-door neighbour was brutally killed. Between weird visits from numerous stray cats, strange activity happening at the abandoned pharmaceutical facility across the water, and a monstrous presence that keeps popping up around the neighbourhood, Curtis is pretty sure he's losing his mind. But is he really crazy, or is there something truly terrifying stalking the residents of Forest Street?

This was definitely a spooky thrill ride, albeit a bit of a slow burn to start. After Curtis returns home and the impending storm hits, things really seemed to ramp up exponentially. I really enjoyed that the story went in an unexpected way (to me) once Curtis got underground; there were conspiracy-theory-like inklings about what was going on with the old pharmaceutical site but I still didn't expect where everything wound up! Overall, this was a terrifying plot and I'm looking forward to the next stories in this promised horror anthology.

Thanks to NetGalley, author J.J. Alo, and SNE Horror LLC for giving me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

J.J. Alo’s The Street Between the Pines is a haunting and deeply psychological thriller that blends horror, mystery, and paranoia into an unrelenting spiral of suspense. Drawing comparisons to the eerie mythos of H.P. Lovecraft and the slow-burning dread of Stephen King, this debut novel is a gripping exploration of trauma, guilt, and the monsters—both real and imagined—that lurk in the shadows.

At the heart of the story is Curtis Reynolds, a Gulf War veteran whose life has unraveled following a tragic DUI. Struggling with PTSD, insomnia, and the wreckage of his personal life, Curtis returns to his childhood home on Forest Street after the brutal murder of a neighbor. But something sinister hides in the pines, something that pushes his fragile mind to the edge as he uncovers a chilling web of folklore, conspiracy, and long-buried secrets.

Alo masterfully crafts an atmosphere of creeping dread, where reality blurs and every shadow seems to whisper of something unseen. Curtis is a deeply flawed but compelling protagonist, and his descent into obsession makes for a riveting, unsettling read. The novel’s pacing is razor-sharp, keeping the reader on edge with each revelation and psychological twist.

For fans of cerebral horror and psychological thrillers that get under your skin, The Street Between the Pines is a must-read. Alo delivers a debut that is as thought-provoking as it is terrifying, proving that sometimes, the scariest monsters are the ones we carry within ourselves.

I think this was an interesting take on the usual cryptid story - the flashes we get of the creature are jarring enough to be frightening without being over the top. I enjoyed that aspect of the book. However, I was not a fan of the two main characters. I think they were both a little flat in their development and I had a hard time really becoming invested in either of their fates.

The premise of this book is really cool. It's a folklore type (almost cryptid) creature-feature and the main "monster" of the story is very unique and was the reason I kept reading.

I was slowed down by the overuse of descriptive language, there were some parts that spanned more than a page of things being unnecessarily described to death that didn't end up having any weight to what was going on. And there were a lot of different plot points and side information that wrapped up great in the end, but while I was reading it was hard to keep track of what was happening and why it was important.

The characters are very realistic and were fleshed out really well but I wish there was a little less back story and a little more monster. I LOVED THE MONSTER so much, I wish it showed up more.

The creepy New England setting is amazing and I loved the characters. The story is enjoyable and eerie, especially the beginning. I think this would make an excellent tv show or movie. I did have to DNF though. I started out liking the writing but then it felt more descriptive for me, which started to cause the story to drag. I’ll probably come back to the book at some point, since I am interested in it but gonna shelve it for now.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc copy 💖

The Street Between the Pines by J.J. Alo was a good thriller with an eerie, slow-burning horror element that kept me entertained. The atmospheric setting in Southern New England added to the unsettling tone, making the mystery feel even more intense. I did guess the twist before it was revealed, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. The thriller aspect was engaging, and the mystery surrounding the addictive creatures in the woods was fascinating.

This book is well written and i ended up reading it in one sitting. I felt like I was reading a horror film and I've watched a lot. I thought it was very original. At some points in the book the tension kept coming to a head and that's when the author just rips it away from you and you just want to carry on.
I Absolutely can't wait to read more of this authors stuff.

An addicting creatures in the woods mystery. It was dark and thrilling. I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down. I was, however, A little disappointed by the ending.

I loved this book! It had me wanting to keep reading until the very end. A great blend of horror, physiological, and thriller. It however did feel like a hodge podge of ideas that left me scratching my head (I love cats but having it end the way it did with the monster was a choice, haha, but I still enjoyed the book overall.)

This book was enjoyable and easy to devour. I felt it was a thriller mixed with horror with amazing written detail that you could actually see and hear/feel if you closed your eyes. I loved the premise of the book, though I did have a feeling that pharma/government was involved in some way or another. I loved how his time across seas in the army connected with the story as well. I will definitely recommend this book to my thriller / horror readers!!

WYM you didn't want a creature feature? No, it is NOT the Mothman... BUT! hehe, we are kind of close.

"This whole goddamned place is cursed."

Thank you, Netgalley and SNE Horror Llc, for the Advanced Copy to review!
You know, I sometimes have to be pivot in horror to view it from a different perspective. I didn't have to do this here. J.J. Alo has a very interesting take on horror, specifically within the Creature Feature portion of the genre. This is really well done, and exceeded my expectations. Starting at the cover, which will end up drawing you in, you are immediately unsettled from setting to storyline. You have gruesome murders, followed by the introduction of a very troubled MMC, whom has a few bad qualities and issues stemming from past trauma. These issues wreak havoc in his personal life, and fully come to fruition when some of the neighbors go missing and the mystery as to why starts to unravel. In addition to an army of cats sitting sentinel to witness the unraveling of this neighborhood, which is seemingly becoming abandoned, and a monster lurking in the woods, The Street Between the Pines is unraveling and so is Curtis.

"It invaded his brain like a freshwater parasite, slowly feeding on cell tissue, disrupting his neural network. Incorruptible, until there was nothing left."

"Looking back at the creature, he realized they shared commonalities. He, too, had been created, so to speak, to kill--had killed, indiscriminately and without remorse. Maybe he was an abomination. But he imagined this thing must feel scared, alone, mostly confused..."


I really enjoyed the blending of elements in this story. You can tell J.J. Alo is a fan of the genre, because there is homage and inspiration layered in each portion of the plot. Curtis gives off a little bit of an Ash Williams vibe, and he is the only thing standing in between this mysterious monster and the safety of himself, his family and his neighborhood. Let's just hope he can get past his own demons in order to save everyone. I only have a few criticisms and they relate to the pacing of the story. At certain points, it feels a little draggy due to, what I feel like is, too much filler. If we cut out a bit of the excess meat, so to speak, it could be a quick paced and action-filled horror novella that would really rip your throat out -- but that's just my opinion and I loved it nonetheless! Lets be honest -- at the end of the day, aren't we all just a little misunderstood?

"And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul..."

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that horror element that I wanted and enjoyed about the genre. It uses the psychological element that I was hoping for in a New England horror novel. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this, the characters worked well in this universe and was invested in the world.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

Street Between the Pines" by JJ Alo is a gripping and atmospheric horror story that definitely delivers on the scares. The plot is well-paced, and the character development is a strong point, allowing you to become invested in their fates as they navigate the increasingly terrifying events. The author doesn't shy away from the gory details, which adds to the palpable sense of dread.

However, I did find some of the depictions of female characters to be jarring. The trope of women being portrayed as either morbidly obese or constantly yelling in curlers felt stereotypical and unnecessary, detracting from the otherwise well-crafted narrative. While I understand the need to establish certain character traits, the reliance on these particular tropes felt outdated and somewhat distracting.

Despite this, the overall story, the chilling atmosphere, and the effective scares earn "The Street Between the Pines" a solid four stars. If you're a fan of horror that doesn't hold back, this book is worth a read, just be prepared for some potentially problematic character portrayals.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Rating: 3 Stars
Spice Rating: 0
Publish Date: March 14th 2023
Will I purchase a physical copy? Possibly.

I want to first start out saying this was well written, I do have mixed feelings on the book if you like creatures in your thriller books I would recommend. I figured out the final twist pretty early on and I think it was a little to descriptive but overall an enjoyable read.

The Street Between the Pines by J.J. Alo presents a charming, nostalgic tale that blends elements of small-town life and mystery. The atmosphere is cozy and evocative, capturing the feeling of a place that’s both familiar and full of secrets. Alo’s writing is engaging, and the descriptions of the town and its characters are vivid, making it easy to imagine yourself walking down the street between the pines.

While the premise is promising, the pacing can feel uneven at times, and the plot unfolds a bit slowly. Some readers might find themselves longing for more depth in the characters and the mystery itself, as the story doesn’t delve as deeply into its potential twists and turns as it could have. Despite these issues, the book has its moments of warmth and intrigue, making it a pleasant read for fans of small-town mysteries with a nostalgic feel.

Overall, The Street Between the Pines is an enjoyable, light read that offers an atmospheric glimpse into a town full of secrets. It’s not the most gripping mystery, but it’s still a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

The Street Between the Pines by J.J. Allo

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


I am very impressed with this book, considering this is the author’s debut.. and it was this well crafted.. I will surely reach whatever else he puts out.

The author has beautifully weaved a complex story in this horror book, and that honestly rarely happens. These characters are real, fully fleshed out, and you understand and can empathize with their experiences. I can understand after reading this book why the blurbs had Stephen King comparisons! His writing, much like King’s is a true character study! He is very intentional with every detail that he has added to the book.

This book was like peeling back the layers of an onion. There is so much going on as we follow Curtis, a hard working father with a unsavory past, that is trying his best just to stay strong and stay afloat while things just keep happening around him, whether it’s from exterior forces or the ghosts in his own head. He is a combat veteran that is still trying to deal with PTSD, and the description in the book is tragically beautiful. In his home life, strange things are happening in his neighborhood, which sends him down one spiral after another to try to understand and save his family.

The gore in this book was great, the pacing was great, it was a very character driven horror, so if that’s up your alley, definitely check this out!

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. It was overly descriptive in parts and seemed too much detail for me—how many gallons of this and that, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m sorry, I wanted to love this especially with that cover!

This was a fun thriller/supernatural read, and I was impressed for how well it was written as a debut.

I had a heck of a time figuring out where this story was headed up until 80% of the way through, but I was glad to see how well the plot wrapped up. There was a lot of supernatural elements mixed with urban mythology which was a well-done combo for this book and its urban-ish setting

Both the internal and external dialogue were unique and honestly quite fun to read through. I felt that it brough a level of real emotion to a genre that typically focuses more on plot than characters. I noticed some character development, not as much as most books but more than I was expecting for the genre as a whole.

"Street Between the Pines," a horror novel, presents an intriguing premise, hinting at a potentially unsettling atmosphere. Unfortunately, the execution fell short of its promise for me. While the author clearly aimed for a sense of dread and mystery, I struggled to connect with the characters, which ultimately hindered my investment in the story.

One of the main issues I encountered was the character development. I found it difficult to empathize with their motivations or understand their reactions to the increasingly strange events unfolding around them. This lack of connection made it challenging to feel genuine fear or suspense. Additionally, some of the conversations felt forced and, at times, even annoying. Dialogue should enhance the story, but in this case, it often felt like a distraction, pulling me out of the narrative.

Despite these criticisms, I do see potential in the core concept of "Street Between the Pines." The setting and the hints of a lurking, unseen threat are promising, and with some revisions, this story could truly deliver on its horror potential. I believe that a deeper exploration of the characters' backstories and a more refined approach to dialogue would significantly improve the overall impact.

Ultimately, while "Street Between the Pines" didn't fully resonate with me, it's not without its merits. I would recommend it with caution to readers who are particularly drawn to atmospheric horror, but I would also advise them to be prepared for some frustrating moments. This book feels like a first draft that needs a little more polish to reach its full potential.