Victoria is set just a few years in the future, but it really began when Victoria Menard was just a little girl and she made a friend. Her name was Chester.
"My friend is gone now...sort of, because I always feel her presence. She hasn't spoken to me in many years but in a way, she will always be with me."
Orphaned at seven, her uncle dies as well and passes his affliction on to her, a spider who promises friendship and adventure. Chester comes to live in her ear and teaches her everything she needs to know to survive and much, much more.
Jason Parent tells Victoria's story with a flippant attitude that's fun to read. As we get further into the tale we learn more and more about Chester's kind. She's so much more than a talking spider. Dare I say the story takes on the cosmic overtones of an H.P. Lovecraft tale.
Victoria is older now and Chester has her searching for secrets in the Vatican. Enter Armani Giancarlo Scarpetti who is part of a clandestine body within the Church whose sole purpose is to safeguard humanity against an ancient evil. I loved the dynamic between Victoria and Armani. Do they want to kill each other or find comfort in each other's arms? One thing is certain in Victoria, you can't trust anyone...people or spiders.
At its heart, Victoria is a thriller novel with a rather strange subtext. Although a sequel to Parent's earlier work, What Hides Within, it is not necessary to read the prior work first.
If you come in with an open mind, I think you're likely to enjoy Victoria, I know I did. Recommended.
Published by Bloodshot Books, Victoria is currently available in both paperback and Kindle formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Jason is an author of horror, thrillers, mysteries, science fiction, and dark humor, though his many novels, novellas, and short stories tend to blur the boundaries between these genres. From his award-winning first horror/mystery novel, What Hides Within, to his widely applauded police procedural/supernatural thriller, Seeing Evil, Jason’s work has won him praise from both critics and fans of diverse genres alike. His work has been compared to that of some of his personal favorite authors, such as Chuck Palahniuk, Jack Ketchum, Tess Gerritsen, and Joe Hill.
Jason grew up near Fall River, Massachusetts, the setting for several of his novels. He has lived in New England most of his life, currently residing in Rhode Island.
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