| Title | : | Lacuna's Point |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1998851095 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781998851096 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 394 |
| Publication | : | First published August 2, 2023 |
But there’s something wrong with this place. The town’s only constable is zero help and downright hostile. There’s a beloved mayor who presides over town affairs, but no one has ever seen his face. Meanwhile, an enormous clock tower holds something sinister behind its cyclopean eye of time.
As Ellie unravels the mystery of her missing daughter, the town begins to change. Its geography. Its spirit. Slowly, this homely paradise transforms into a nightmarish dreamworld. And not just the town; the people themselves are slowly evolving into something…else.
"If you're a fan of strong, character-driven modern horror, then you must read Tim Meyer."
- Ronald Malfi, author of Come with Me
Lacuna's Point Reviews
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A Lovecraftian Terror!
Lacuna’s Point is a very interesting book that is worth a reading. It has some great moments in the telling of its story. And the fact of the matter is that the story is a Lovecraftian horror.
If the author decided that he wanted to make a movie about this story, then he would probably want it to be an actual story about gross monsters and the crabs that are in the story.
The story is about the few people who are kidnapped and then some of them are taken to the clock tower.
The author uses a great deal of the tropes of Lovecraft horror to explain the story.
The other characters bring a lot of different purposes to their telling of the story and how they are able to survive in the town.
Fantastic story and I think it’s worth four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -
Full review at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/the...
Have you heard of a band called Lacuna’s Coil?
It doesn’t really matter, because it has nothing to do with this story.
Lacuna’s Point is a place where people get mesmerized by the clock tower and disappear from the face of the earth. Two best friends goes there and they are presumed dead, but after three years their parents get text messages and a photo with the clock tower in the background.
The parents goes in search of their missing children and suddenly finds themselves in a Twilight Zone-like situation. And, of course, there is a bad guy who happens to be the mayor of the town.
So, is there any hope left for the missing girls or do the parents find themselves lost to the world too?
It can be really tricky when it comes to balance, especially when you write a slow burn as this story turned out to be. Tim Meyer is a great writer and his character development in this one is superb. For the story itself, I can’t fault him on anything.
However, it felt a little too long. It might have to do with my personal taste changing over the last few years, especially with the volume of books (and reviews) waiting, that I am moving away from slow burns. This is also the reason I have been off thrillers for a while.
So, this is my advice to any readers who takes on this book:
If you are patient, you will be rewarded. But know that it is going to be a journey to reach your destination.
I am not going to be harsh on the author for the length of this novel and I am going to give it a solid 4 stars, for I probably would have abandoned it if the writing was not so good. Again, my personal taste, not the story.
Highly recommended to horror readers who loves the character development and appreciates the reward of a slow burn. -
Too long and Political...
LACUNA'S POINT by Tim Meyer
No spoilers. 2 1/2 stars. This is a story about the dark side of the American dream...
As BFFs Dawn and Kya strolled the Art Festival at Lacuna's Point, a little boy told Kya: You need leave or...
It will take you...
Then Kya, as well as the townsfolk, were hypnotized by the sound, and it carried them away...
Three years later...
The girls' parents receive texts from them saying that they're alive and asking for help...
This is a hit or miss author for me. He has some good stories to tell, but some are definitely misses, in my opinion.
What I didn't like about this tale:
It starts with the parents searching for their missing children, and the parents immediately make the leap that Lacuna's Point is a town of sinister citizens. Making matters worse is the aggressive way the parents go about questioning the townspeople they meet.
Then there is the evil mayor of the town who bumps people off at a whim, and the townsfolk accept this as normal and acceptable.
There's a lot of bigotry and police stereotypes throughout. The story seemed to be an outlet for political opinions, which shouldn't be part of successful storytelling... save that for the upcoming elections.
Finally, this story was waaaaay too long in the telling, and it reminded me of the offerings by SK and clan. It had the feel of trying to meet a word count requirement.
Tackle this story if you're okay with long-winded stories with a political leaning. -
Lacuna’s Point is like a floater in the eye, there one moment gone the next. It’s a place where strange things happen and even stranger things are permitted to thrive.
There’s a deep unsettling feeling in this book, from the outset you know you’re reading a page-turner of a book, where each flick of the page takes you further down the rabbit hole. And Meyer demonstrates his immeasurable gift as a storyteller, weaving the drama on display with perfect pacing and splicing into that moments of horror which truly strike you something wicked.
The key to this book and it’s hold on the reader, in my opinion l, comes down to three things.
1) Meyer’s way of crafting such an immersive place, the sense of locale in this story is as sharp as a knife and as detailed as the Sistine Chapel. It lives and breathes within the pages and then blooms in the mind. I felt I could visit this place (not that I wanted to) but I could. The town, in a way is a character in itself, probably the main character of I’m honest - it’s fully formed, and horrifically ominous.
2) Characters - there’s a lot of characters in this, but we soon are drawn to a handful. But what I loved is that everyone in this is rounded, Tim just doesn’t drop someone in there who’s not furthering the story, each piece matters and like a puzzle, when we get to the end we see the whole picture with each character playing their part in the glorious work of art Meyer has produced. Also Meyer writes villainous characters with such depth that at times I wanted to step into the book and put the boot into a few of them… I literally loved to hate them.
3) The horror - now there’s much to delve into here, and Meyer does it all with skill and a deft touch. It’s not heavy handed in the slightest, if anything it’s slow and brooding, something that truly gets under your skin. But then there are moments of barbarity which truly shock and distress - there’s a scene in a diner which made me raise my eyebrows and whistle at the page when it hit… because when it hit, it hit like a sledgehammer!
It’s one hell of a read, it starts with a bang and doesn’t let up until the final page is turned… but even then the legend of Lacuna’s Point lives on. Strong ‘In The Mouth of Madness’ vibes - but I love that film so with that comparison it was always going to be a winner!
And may I just say… what a bloody ending!
Twin Peaks has a new home, and it’s called Lacuna’s Point - a distressing, horrifying and anxiety inducing read. A book which at points made me question my own sanity, and that my friends is the mark of a good book, and a masterful storyteller! -
Lacuna's Point is a strange, liminal, and intense horror story. People who visit there never seem to leave. When they go missing the people who come looking for them never come back either and disappear inside a town that doesn't seemingly exist.
A strange clock tower looms above the town of Lacuna's Point and it seems like not one of the strange townsfolk can agree on the passage of time. On top of that there's something about these people that live there that seems off. The town is by the water and don't even get me started on the crabs. If you read this, you'll know...
The town is run by a beloved mayor who doesn't seem to make appearances often and sequesters himself inside the looming clock tower or wherever else he may roam.
A mysterious, gory, delicious, weird, and fantastical book. I was hooked from the get-go. What is this town? What is in the clock tower? What the heck is wrong with the people who live there?! Is there any escape? Well my friends, you're gonna have to read it if you want answers and oh boy, be prepared for a wild ride! -
"It seems like every window has a face, staring, empty eyes that examine Ellie and Mitch's every step. She's acutely aware of small-town gossip, and how two strangers showing up in town to ask peculiar questions might draw attention. But this seems like a bit much, above the average curiosity."
Oh, this one was good. It was so creepy and unsettling from the start, and that didn't stop until right at the end. Not one part of it went the way I thought it would go. Everything was described beautifully even when what was being described was awful. Loved every bit of this.
A definite must-read. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Thank you to DarkLit press for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review. -
The premise was good and lured me in. The story felt too long and the writing had a lot of repetition.
For example, multiple characters said “man” at the end of statements as if it’s coming out of the author’s own voice verses the characters being made to each have their own unique ways of speaking:
“Look around you, man”!
“What is this, man?”
“I need to sit down, man”.
“Not your fault, man”.
“Oh fuck off, man”.
“You do that, man”.
And there are more!!…
These sentences come from several characters, male & female. Many of the characters “voices” blended together for me. Exceptions: the mayor, & the police officer, Elroy. They were the strongest characters in my opinion. They had strong identity and a unique voice.
The other repetitive aspect was the pervasive political points and cliche cop references that really ruined the escape I desire when reading fiction books. I read books about political issues that are **non-fiction** or listen to podcasts…when reading horror, please keep it to a minimum!!
Otherwise, I enjoyed it enough to finish the book! :) Despite some mental eyerolls :P
I’ll explore some other books by Tim—but hopefully this was the only one that has the political speak. To be fair: He did make a note at the end saying he started it in 2020 and (I’m paraphrasing) the outside world likely unconsciously made its way in. -
This was a very interesting, entertaining story. I really grew to care about some of the characters and to really loathe others. Tim Meyer just keeps getting better and better. I received a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
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When I learn a book is described as "cosmic horror" I approach it with certain expectations. At first I wasn't sure that the story in LACUNA'S POINT would actually justify that designation. It didn't matter, as I was hooked by the prologue and thoroughly enjoying the mystery of two different parents joining forces to pursue a weird text message from beyond, giving them hope that their missing daughters were alive and well but crying out for help. There was a real Twilight Zone type of vibe coming off those proceedings.
Then it gets even stranger when the town of Lacuna's Point if finally located, which looks like a ghost town to the uninvited - - and the invited aren't aware why they can see it and interact with the residents. I usually expect cosmic horror stories to center around New England, particularly Rhode Island --- but never thought of the state of Virginia as harboring such elements. But as the story proceeds, Lacuna's Point brought back memories of H. P. Lovecraft's "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". It also reminded me of the "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers" and a little "Wicker Man".
Tim Meyer's version of "cosmic horror" blends a lot of seemingly disparate elements but manages to make each weird occurrence or situation integral to the main story. This is also cosmic horror of the most extreme horror/body horror nature so squeamish readers beware. There is an abundance of gorey scenes. I was delighted by the last half of this book, and finished at a much quicker pace than I began. I believe I'll keep a certain type of shellfish out of my diet for some time.
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Two girls disappear and 3 years later their parents get messages from them asking them to come help them. Lacuna's Point has many secrets and this book creates a interesting little town that slowly reveals all of its horror building to a bloody ending.
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Many thanks to DarkLit press for access to an ARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review.
Lacuna’s Point is a small town that prides itself in its hometown values and it’s residents living the American dream. What no one ever says is that it’s the dark side of that dream. From the moment the reader is introduced, it’s evident something menacing is at okay. No town can be so quaking and so perfect. It honestly felt like I was reading a script from an episode of The Twilight Zone. The further I got into the story, the more complex the town and the inhabitants became. I liked the concept of the book. I liked how Meyer was able to subtly weave bits of social commentary into the story. But my favorite thing about the book is when it is revealed what the true horror of Lacuna’s Point is which I shall not reveal because you need to read it for yourself. Wow! So much fun and that ending was amazing! So satisfying. There are some trigger warnings that you may want to check out if there are any topics that you may be sensitive to as a reader. Overall, Lacuna’s Point is perfect for fans of creepy small towns, cults, comic horror, and speculative science fiction. -
I received an ARC of this book to give an honest review.
I've only read one other Tim Meyer book. Kill Hill Carnage. I hated it, but Meyer seems to get a lot of good buzz since then so I figured things have gotten better.
Meyer has absolutely grown as a writer since Kill Hill Carnage. I felt a little anxious going into this knowing it would be Lovecraftian, because that's so played out and it's hard to be original in that genre anymore. But Meyer accomplished an original weird fiction horror.
The cast is huge sometimes and the point of view jumps in chapters quite a bit. But it all ends up making sense. It's all worth the confusion and mystery. The build up is very slow at times but in the end I thought it was all worth it.
There are some things I wish had been expanded upon, and some characters I think deserved more time in the book, but this is definitely one of the coolest weirdlit books I've read. -
This book confirms that cosmic horror is indeed one of my favorite horror subgenres. The suspense was perfect as Ellie and Mitch, the parents of the missing girls, tried to wrap their heads around everything going on in the town. The ominous atmosphere and elements of body horror had my skin crawling. I also liked how the author seamlessly incorporated relevant social issues into the story. Terrific book. Highly recommend.
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Lacuna's Point checks off so many boxes for me. I really enjoyed this character driven often story that is so many things.. mystery.. small town horror... cosmic horror... body horror.. It really has it all, plus it will keep you guessing and turning the pages until it is all revealed.
Thank you to Dark Lit Press for the advanced copy of this enjoyable novel. -
Thank You Tim Meyer and Darklit Press
I entered this Novel blind. It's very well paced with believable characters. The writing style is as smooth as butter.
Three years ago, two girls went missing when they were on a road trip to the Virginia Coast. One of the girls suddenly text her mother. This text may lead her to find her Missing Daughter or Lead Nowhere? Ella's found more then she was looking for in this Twilight Zone Science Fiction Thriller.
Lacuna Point first appears as a ghost town wait a few moments it starts to show an active town. This town has strong Twilight Zone feel. Things appear and disappear in a blink of an eye. There's Something Strange going on with the Town's Clock. I Recommend this 5 star novel.
Speculative Fiction
Cosmic Horror
Eldritch/ Lovecraftian
Triggers -
3 1/2 STARS
Lacuna's Point is a very subtle horror story with a very slow burn. Sometimes too slow considering the length of the novel. I say subtle horror only because, despite the viciousness of the events, I was not really horrified by any of it... except when one character maims herself. That one bit made me gasp. Other than the length, I cannot fault the writing. I did not really find any flaws there. The writing was fine, the characters interesting and the plot thrilling. Just too long. I am not adverse to a long novel, this one just dragged somewhat for me. Others will most likely very much enjoy the book.
I received an advance review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion of the tale. -
Tim Meyer is very much up there among my favorite indie authors right now, so I was excited to dive into his newest release, Lacuna's Point.
This is a rather hefty book that would be considered by most to be of the slow burn variety. That said, it gives the author time to really develop the story and it's main characters, which he does really well, as always.
There are times when the book drags a little, but it all begins to churn along once we get to the Lovecraftian element of the tale, which gave me some serious Silent Hill vibes.
There are several twists and turns and unexpected moments along the way, making the long journey one that is definitely worth taking. -
3 1/2 ⭐️
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Thanks to Dark Lit Press for the review copy.
3 years after their respective daughters go missing and are presumed dead, Ellie and Mitch receive cryptic texts from their daughters, bringing them to Lacuna’s Point…
This book was a fantastic read, the plot really keeps you guessing and there clearly a mix of influences in the book which help to flesh it out and make it even more compelling. Eldritch horror meets The Wicker Man. Tim Meyer is great at world-building in his writing so everything is made very vivid and you can easily imagine every scene playing out. My only criticism is that towards the end of the book I found it a little repetitive but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of it. -
Horror Aficionados September Author Group Read!
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There is a place that may or may not exist with a clock tower that may or may not be sinister. Or who are we kidding here? You know what kind of novel this is. You know the genre. The place is definitely there if you look for it. The clock tower is definitely evil.
But wait, there’s more. There’s an entire town and a very creepy mayor that’s dedicated to …arts, of all things. Yeah, creeps like the finer things in life. You can say it nourishes them. In a disturbingly literal sort of way.
The novel opens in a rather clichéd fashion, with two girls/young women driving out of their way to the eponymous place for an art festival and a boy and stepping into some local-flavored cosmic doodoo. Not a particularly impressive beginning at all, even the language is like “towering clock tower.”
But then the novel pivots very nicely. First off, it brings some adults in. Now the leads are the parents” the mother of one of the girls and the father of another. It’s been three years, and now, both of them get cryptic text messages from their daughters telling them to come find them.
So, they do. They find the same creepy town, the same creepy clock tower, the same creepy mayor, and get properly embroiled in all that’s going on there.
In size and mode and sheer number of characters, the novel is pretty epic. It’s very long. Too long for my taste, actually, but it reads pretty dynamically. I wasn’t particularly engaged with any of the characters, but the town intrigued me conceptually.
In fact, the concept was fun enough for me to round up my rating of the book.
Meyer is a competent writer with an impressive imagination, so his take on cosmic is pretty fun. All in all, a solid read with a lot to enjoy for genre fans.
This and more at
https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/ -
In the chilling depths of Lacuna's Point, Tim Meyer unleashes a cosmic horror that tears at the very fabric of your sanity. Amidst broken families, grief, and desperation, dark forces loom, ready to devour souls and shatter minds. The monsters run wild, feeding off fear and despair, as the characters venture deeper into the abyss of terror.
Prepare to be consumed by the fear that crawls under your skin, entwining you in its sinister grasp. The tension swells relentlessly, like a storm gathering strength, until it reaches a cataclysmic and explosive climax that will leave you breathless.
Through atmospheric storytelling, Meyer thrusts you into a nightmarish realm where the boundaries of reality blur with each turn of the page. The haunting presence of malevolence looms, intertwined with the raw emotions of desperate souls seeking redemption.
In Lacuna's Point, the horrifying unknown lurks around every corner, seeping into your dreams, and haunting your waking hours. Highly recommended for those who dare to confront the depths of cosmic horror and emerge forever changed. Brace yourself for an unforgettable and harrowing journey, where the line between darkness and light fades into eternal obscurity. -
This is my second Tim Meyer novel, but this is so significantly different from Malignant Summer that I'm not certain how I feel about this story. To his credit, Lacuna's Point is rich with mood and setting. I love the horrors from Poe, Hodgson, Barker, and even Lumley; although, Lovecraft, Machen, Shaw, and Blackwood are hit or miss for me. The weird or cosmic horror is not my favorite, and boy is this weird and cosmic AF.
Here, Lacuna's Point is a locus for some kind of portal into dreams, nightmares, other dimensions, I'm not sure. At times, the town has a physical presence situated in the now, but there are times it is situated in the past. Whatever the case, the story begins with two college-aged young women (Dawn and Kya) that are attending the town's highly venerated art festival.
Dawn is a painter and an art geek, so the festival has a special attraction to her. Kya is Dawn's best friend so she is being supportive. When the clock in the clock tower starts to chime the townspeople seem to turn catatonic, and approach the young coeds like zombies hearing the dinner bell looking for brains. Flash forward, three years and the reader learns that Dawn and Kya have been disappeared and their parents are struggling with trying to procede with a life devoid of a missing offspring. Suddenly, Dawn's mom and Kya's Dad get text messages from their daughter's directing their parents to Lacuna's Point. Of course, the parents head toward Lacuna's Point. Wouldn't you?
Meyer is very good at providing a sense of uneasiness that pervades the novel. I would almost characterize the feeling as a sense of "dis-ease." There is plenty of gore and blood here cloaked in sophisticated language making me feel as if M. R. James wrote the narration and Vincent Price was paid to read it. It really is very good, although like I said, sometimes hard to follow. Clearly, in the writing of this review I decided, I liked it a lot. -
I think this is a really solid novel in the vein of Stephen King’s “Desperation.” I think I would’ve loved it had it been written in the 80s or early 90s. I’ve been trying to think about why it didn’t completely enrapture me, but I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that our modern culture just isn’t as interesting as it was back then. Communities, families, individuals had more depth, felt more genuine. I get that a lot of people won’t share that opinion, but I personally think that’s pretty objective. The more narcissistic a culture becomes, the less interesting and more shallow. And how the characters and relationships are shaped and developed here reflect that. A product of its time that’s somewhat inescapable.
Anyway, I do think if you like the modern horror books, you’ll love this. -
Lacuna’s Point by Tim Meyer was a haunting stop on a long, dark road. This is a story of nightmares, monsters, two missing girls, and a mysterious clock tower. All of this in a town that, well, is the town even really there? When one of the girl’s mom receives a message from her long missing daughter, they set out on a journey that no one expected. Lacuna’s Point has a lot going on. There are a lot characters to keep up with. That said, the book reads like a movie. In fact, the entire time I was listening, I was envisioning a Stephen Kingesque movie. That made it easier for me to remember the characters. This would make a great film! Overall I enjoyed Lacuna’s Point, but I did feel it was longer than it needed to be (another nod to King, I suppose!). If you feel like you need an escape for a few days, take a visit to Lacuna’s Point. Just don’t ask to see The Mayor.
