I think he captures the swamps and the frightening spirit extremely well and does it in a way that makes you look over your shoulder as you read this late at night. This one has all the elements of a great horror novel with some added aspects of Indian lore that gives this writer his own special touch.

If you like a gripping read, get this one. I found myself reading the entire thing in one day which is very rare for me. Owl Goingback has all the makings to become one of the most popular names in horror. I hope he comes out with another book very soon. A great novel!

As a literary agent, I am deluged with thousands of books a year. But when CROTA, by Owl Goingback, came to me, it was with a recommendation from Andre Norton, the best-selling fantasy author. With a recommendation like that, I made reading CROTA a priority. And I'm glad I did. I read it on a plane to Florida and the flight, normally three hours and change, seemed to take about twenty minutes. This is a great plane or train read.

A number of quotes and reviews have been received for this title, just in case you haven't seen them, here they are:

"Engrossing...Goingback proves he has a talent for creating heart-stopping scenes that meld realism and fantasy. claustrophobically frightening...a monster of a tale."-Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

A "well-written first novel...an easy-reading, compelling page turner...that produces thrills and chills, has an unusual protagonist and culminates in a dynamic climax with an unexpected but heartwarming twist."-The Hartford Courant

"...readable...appealing...[has the] suspense of a Dean Koontz or Clive Barker"-Kirkus Reviews

"...high points are the accounts of Indian history and legend, which have the flavor of the authentic oral tradition...Goingback keeps the action brisk..."-Publishers Weekly

"This is one of the best un-put-down-able books that has passed through my hands in a long time. The characters are so real that one feels that one is standing right beside each and every one...I have known the work of Owl Goingback for many years, but in this he has excelled with his mixture of Native American and the everyday beliefs. This can be heartily recommended, not only to readers of fantasy but even to the general public who wants excitement on every page."-Best-selling fantasy author Andre Norton

"Owl Goingback is one of the most interesting new writers working today. He combines the traditions of oral storytelling with the fast-paced prose of today's best-selling fiction, and then adds his own unique perspective. A natural storyteller, Owl Goingback will be spinning tales for us for a long time to come."-Martin H. Greenberg, best-selling anthologist

A terror has woken up in a small town, and has the ability to rip apart (violently) anything in its path. No moden weapons of today can destroy the Crota. It's up to Skip, a local sheriff and a Natiave American, Jay Little Hawk to use the Navative American ancestory to defeat the Crota.

Goingback is a fantastic writer. The characters he has created seem real and not flat the way some writers are. His writing style is one that's easy to read. The reader won't get lost in long paragraphs and longer description. Goingback get's right to the point.

I liked how Goingback used his Natative American history to bring the reader in to the nataive American world and legend. The book it'self was pretty violent, but I couldn't put down. It was that good.

This is the first book I read by Goingback,and I plan to read the rest of his books. If they're as good as this, he has me hooked. I urge you to go out and get this book. It's a quick read and I had a hard time putting it down.

The story mixes Native American legend and present day America in a small town. The first bodies are found ripped to pieces and one of them even hanging from a tree. Owl Goingback explains the scene almost as well as a forensic scientist would in a report, just with a lot more intrigue as to make it an exciting book. Sheriff Skip Harding, part Native American, knows that something or someone horrible did this, because the state of the bodies is truly gruesome.

As the authorities try to solve the case, more attacks start occuring all around the outskirts of town, each as gruesome and bloody as the last. When the police investigate the killing of numerous cows (including a huge bull) and a farmer on the outskirts of town, Skip is almost killed by the immense beast that killed the herd and its owner. When none of his colleagues believe him, he seeks a means by which of killing the horrid creature. He turns to Jay Little Hawk, a Native American resident of the area. The creature is known as Crota in Native American legend, and is reported to be immortal except to the powers of a shaman.

Together, with a medicine-man from a Midwest reservation, they seek out the Crota and track it down to its immense underground lair. The climax of this story is fast-paced, as much of the book is, and is very fun to read. I finished this book in about two days, because it is so captivating. I would most definitely suggest that anyone remotely interested in horror, action, or books in general should read Crota. It's a great book that I plan to read again someday.

This is not to say that you won't thoroughly enjoy "Breed", however. Just suspend your powers of disbelief for a while and dig in.

The story begins when local mystics break into St. Augustine's Tolomato Cemetary and through their incantations, unlease an ancient Indian demon known as the "Shiru". As the Shiru prepares to cross over into the world of the living, numerous deaths and mutilations occur. When Detective Jack Colvin begins to investigate these strange deaths, he realizes that things may not be as they appear. He becomes even more confused about the deaths when local tour guide, Ssabra Onih, reports to him that she believes that the murders are being committed by an ancient evil Indian spirit. Ssabra loses credibility with Colvin when she explains that her knowledge of these events comes from the spirit of Indian Chief Tolomato (also a resident of Tolomato Cemetary) who has visited her on a number of occasions to warn the living world of the evil Shiru.

Now I know all of this sounds too fantastic to make a good yarn, but Goingback pulls it all together. Fortunately for the reader, he spends most of the book's time in the present and creates a pretty good murder mystery. Goingback also injected some humor into the book by making Chief Tolomato a relatively cynical and "hip" character. The interaction between the Chief and Ssabra are some of the stronger parts of the book. Even the ending was a little out of the ordinary for this type of story. Not unsatisfying, just different than what I expected.

I was particularly impressed with Goingback's "on-the-money" descriptions of the St. Augustine area. As a frequent visitor to this part of Florida, it was very rewarding to see the area so accurately depicted. I appreciate his efforts and the time that he spent researching the St. Augustine area.

If this is the first book you've read by Goingback, be sure to give his other novels a look. Especially recommended is his first book, "Crota", a Bram Stoker Award winner. Goingback is a very promising author who will continue to thrill his growing legion of fans for years to come.

Michael Anthony is a horror writer and he's going back to here he grew up. He likes it there, but not everyone wants him back. the townspeople think he's cursed. Why? His grandma was knows as the town loon. She was known to shoot holes in the walls and call the police b/c she sees shadows. But maybe she wasn't that crazy. Mike and his familty move into his Grandama's house...soon, Mike and his family will learn what true terror is...and try to find help in a town that doesn't want him.

I like how Goingback has a lot of Native American culture in his books. If you dont' know a lot about the Native American culture (like me) he bring it down to a basic level.

This book is well written, has wonderful plot twists, on the edge of your seat horror, and wodnderful characters that you want to know more aobut. I highly urge you to read this book. You won't be sorry.