Author: Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan
Genre: Thriller/Sci-Fi
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (Hachette Audio)
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Book Description: A horrific crime that defies explanation, a rookie FBI agent in uncharted territory, and an extraordinary hero for the ages: an investigation spirals out of control in this heart-pounding thriller.
Odessa Hardwicke’s life is derailed when she’s forced to turn her gun on her partner, Walt Leppo, a decorated FBI agent who turns suddenly, inexplicably violent while apprehending a rampaging murderer. The shooting, justified by self-defense, shakes the young FBI agent to her core. Devastated, Odessa is placed on desk leave pending a full investigation. But what most troubles Odessa isn’t the tragedy itself — it’s the shadowy presence she thought she saw fleeing the deceased agent’s body after his death.
Questioning her future with the FBI and her sanity, Hardwicke accepts a low-level assignment to clear out the belongings of a retired agent in the New York office. What she finds there will put her on the trail of a mysterious figure named Hugo Blackwood, a man of enormous means who claims to have been alive for centuries, and who is either an unhinged lunatic, or humanity’s best and only defense against unspeakable evil.
From the authors who brought you The Strain Trilogy comes a strange, terrifying, and darkly wondrous world of suspense, mystery, and literary horror. The Hollow Ones is a chilling, spell-binding tale, a hauntingly original new fable from Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro and bestselling author Chuck Hogan featuring their most fascinating character yet.
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: Another stellar pairing of Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan, who brought us The Strain Trilogy. This book is in the same genre as their previous books, thriller mixed in with Sci-Fi.
If you have ever seen the move Fallen with Denzel Washington, you will start to feel a very similar vibe with this story. Odessa Hardwicke is an FBI agent. She and her partner Leppo walk into the unthinkable at the start, and Odessa is forced to shoot and kill her partner. As he is dying, an aura comes off of him, which Odessa cannot explain.
Odessa quickly starts investigating similar incidents and brings in outsiders who might be familiar to what is occurring. In comes Blackwood, who you will get his backstory, does not seem to age, and has been following this phenomenon for many years.
What ensues is a creepy thriller, almost borderline horror. Del Toro is a master at making his writing very cinematic. I can picture everything they are trying to convey in my head. If you are fans of his previous works I do not think you will be disappointed.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Obsessed Bookaholic 