What do you think?
Rate this book
Mass Hysteria
It came from space…
Something virulent. Something evil. Something new. And it is infecting the town of Falls Breath.
Carried to Earth in a freak meteor shower, an alien virus has infected the animals. Pets and wildlife have turned rabid, attacking without warning. Dogs and cats terrorize their owners, while deer and wolves from the neighboring woods hunt in packs, stalking and killing their human prey without mercy.
As the town comes under siege, Lauren searches for her boyfriend, while her policeman father fights to restore some semblance of order against a threat unlike anything he has seen before. The Natural Order has been upended completely, and nowhere is safe.
…and it is spreading.
Soon, the city will find itself in the grips of mass hysteria.
To survive, humanity will have to fight tooth and nail.
Something virulent. Something evil. Something new. And it is infecting the town of Falls Breath.
Carried to Earth in a freak meteor shower, an alien virus has infected the animals. Pets and wildlife have turned rabid, attacking without warning. Dogs and cats terrorize their owners, while deer and wolves from the neighboring woods hunt in packs, stalking and killing their human prey without mercy.
As the town comes under siege, Lauren searches for her boyfriend, while her policeman father fights to restore some semblance of order against a threat unlike anything he has seen before. The Natural Order has been upended completely, and nowhere is safe.
…and it is spreading.
Soon, the city will find itself in the grips of mass hysteria.
To survive, humanity will have to fight tooth and nail.
258 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2017
About the author
Michael Patrick Hicks
37 books478 followersMichael Patrick Hicks is the author of several horror books, including the Salem Hawley series and Friday Night Massacre. His debut novel, Convergence, was an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Finalist in science fiction, and his short stories have appeared in more than a dozen anthologies.
You can find Michael’s books on Amazon in print, ebook, and audiobook at http://viewauthor.at/MichaelPatrickHicks.
Connect with Michael at:
Substack: https://michaelpatrickhicks.substack....
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeH5856
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Instagram: http://instagram.com/mphicks79
You can find Michael’s books on Amazon in print, ebook, and audiobook at http://viewauthor.at/MichaelPatrickHicks.
Connect with Michael at:
Substack: https://michaelpatrickhicks.substack....
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeH5856
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Instagram: http://instagram.com/mphicks79
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 13, 2017
Mass Hysteria was a brutal horror novel, which reminded me of the horror being written in the late 70's and, (all of the), 80's. Books like James Herbert's The Rats or Guy N. Smith's The Night of the Crabs. There are a lot of similarities to those classics here-the fast paced action going from scene to scene-with many gory deaths and other sick events. In fact, I think Mass Hysteria beats out those books in its sheer horrific brutality.
I'm not going to go into the plot very much-it's there in the synopsis for you. As a set up for the savage action to come, meteor showers are as good as anything else. The fact that the sickness hits the animals first and turns them from wonderful pets, police dogs, etc...and turns them into violent killing machines was heartbreaking. I felt more sympathy for the animals in this book than I did for most of the humans. Almost all of the people in this book were not likable. In fact, many of them were abhorrent, promiscuous or just plain stupid. That was okay though, because they got exactly what they deserved.
There was a good amount of sex here, interspersed with the horror, and the word "empurpled" was used a few times. (It made me chuckle every time!) Be prepared though, as the sex was not always with live humans.
Which brings me to my next point, this book is not for the easily offended. It's not for the horror novice who is new to the genre and all its various offerings. I think Mass Hysteria is best enjoyed by the experienced horror fan. Humans and animals alike are killed in all kinds of nasty ways. There is necrophilia, there is bestiality...are you seeing my point here? If even the very thought of these things disgusts you, this is not the book for you.
My last thought to share with you is about the ending: LOVED. IT. !! Keeping in tone with the style of the book up that point, Mr. Hicks did not shy away from the, (what I thought was), inevitable finish. I like and respect that!
If the subjects I mentioned above tend to make you shy away from a story, this one is probably not for you. However, if these subjects and the brutal kills and gore ARE your cuppa, then you should head over to Amazon right now and one-click this bad boy.
Recommended for hard core fans of the genre!
You can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Mass-Hysteria-...
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
I'm not going to go into the plot very much-it's there in the synopsis for you. As a set up for the savage action to come, meteor showers are as good as anything else. The fact that the sickness hits the animals first and turns them from wonderful pets, police dogs, etc...and turns them into violent killing machines was heartbreaking. I felt more sympathy for the animals in this book than I did for most of the humans. Almost all of the people in this book were not likable. In fact, many of them were abhorrent, promiscuous or just plain stupid. That was okay though, because they got exactly what they deserved.
There was a good amount of sex here, interspersed with the horror, and the word "empurpled" was used a few times. (It made me chuckle every time!) Be prepared though, as the sex was not always with live humans.
Which brings me to my next point, this book is not for the easily offended. It's not for the horror novice who is new to the genre and all its various offerings. I think Mass Hysteria is best enjoyed by the experienced horror fan. Humans and animals alike are killed in all kinds of nasty ways. There is necrophilia, there is bestiality...are you seeing my point here? If even the very thought of these things disgusts you, this is not the book for you.
My last thought to share with you is about the ending: LOVED. IT. !! Keeping in tone with the style of the book up that point, Mr. Hicks did not shy away from the, (what I thought was), inevitable finish. I like and respect that!
If the subjects I mentioned above tend to make you shy away from a story, this one is probably not for you. However, if these subjects and the brutal kills and gore ARE your cuppa, then you should head over to Amazon right now and one-click this bad boy.
Recommended for hard core fans of the genre!
You can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Mass-Hysteria-...
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
September 23, 2017
After a freak meteor shower, the world goes to hell in a hand basket as animals run amok and go on a murderous rampage. You know your cute little hamster “Fluffles”, well he ain’t so cute anymore and is now just a mindless killing machine bent on devouring human flesh. "Quick, somebody get me the nail gun!" (Disclaimer: For the record, I love animals and condone zero violence toward them…unless they are trying to chew out your eye balls and feast on your internal organs. Then you have my permission to grab the nail gun.)
This was a wee more splatterpunky than I was expecting from Mr. Hicks, and that was not a bad thing. Starts fast and violent and gets bloodier from there. Good times. I dug it.
*I received a complimentary copy of this work from the author and voluntarily left this honest review.
August 8, 2017
A fast paced gory tale that is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. It needs a warning for people who like to read during their lunch break. You may want to put the food down before you pick this up.
The meteor shower over the town of Fall's Breath was not just a beautiful light show. It carried with it something deadly. It rapidly turns household pets and wild life alike into ravenous killing machines. The people who manage to survive the attacks will also need to survive each other as this alien virus leaves them forever changed.
3and a half stars rounded up to 4
I received an advance copy for review.
The meteor shower over the town of Fall's Breath was not just a beautiful light show. It carried with it something deadly. It rapidly turns household pets and wild life alike into ravenous killing machines. The people who manage to survive the attacks will also need to survive each other as this alien virus leaves them forever changed.
3and a half stars rounded up to 4
I received an advance copy for review.
September 14, 2017
MASS HYSTERIA, by Michael Patrick Hicks is a book that takes a "slightly" different take on the end of the world, than the typical ones. What starts out with Meteors, soon has all the animals turning on the humans. Oddly enough, this didn't bother me so much, as the people weren't particularly endearing to begin with.
There are no wasted words in this novel--it is simply brutal! If sexual scenes (of various natures....) aren't your thing, than you won't want to pick up this book. For those hardcore horror fans that can stomach the "dog eats dog" philosophy of an apocalyptic world, this is the one for you.
I won't go into the plot (as it is pretty clearly stated in the synopsis), but I have to admire the was Hicks stayed true to the "style" of this novel throughout its entirety. In my opinion, the most PERFECT ending ever for a novel of this kind, and completely unexpected!
Recommended to hardcore horror fans!!
*I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley. All opinions are completely my own.*
There are no wasted words in this novel--it is simply brutal! If sexual scenes (of various natures....) aren't your thing, than you won't want to pick up this book. For those hardcore horror fans that can stomach the "dog eats dog" philosophy of an apocalyptic world, this is the one for you.
I won't go into the plot (as it is pretty clearly stated in the synopsis), but I have to admire the was Hicks stayed true to the "style" of this novel throughout its entirety. In my opinion, the most PERFECT ending ever for a novel of this kind, and completely unexpected!
Recommended to hardcore horror fans!!
*I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley. All opinions are completely my own.*
August 12, 2017
Mass Hysteria is a hell of a brutal, end of the world free for all. What happens in this small town (and we're led to believe the rest of the world), is not for the faint of heart or the squeamish. A terrifying vision of a future gone mad with bloodlust, Mass Hysteria will haunt your nightmares.
February 25, 2019
The most brutal novel I have ever read. Sick and twisted horror of the extreme kind! I was truly horrified! Not for the easily offended or those easily grossed out! It was a hell of a horror novel, and Michael Patrick Hicks is crazy! 😁😂😂
February 15, 2022
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Over the last few years, I’ve read a number of Patrick Hicks works and have really come to love his style of storytelling and the way he infuses each story with a larger idea, a deeper meaning.
Throughout this time, I’ve also had one of his novels sitting there on my TBR growing depressed that I was passing it over time and time again.
Heck, even David Sodergren was practically begging me to read ‘Mass Hysteria’ and when it gets to the point of him sending videos of his pug Boris with the caption saying “why won’t you read this book, Steve? why?” you know you need to get to it. (For the record, David never sent me those videos but he almost did beg, like almost, like ‘you read that book yet?’ level begging, so there’s that.)
Anyways, I went into this fairly blind, other than knowing that my love of ‘The Blood Beast Mutations’ by Carl John Lee and ‘Crazytimes’ by Scott Cole had similar plots and levels of gore.
What I liked: The story picks up the morning after Earth is treated to a huge meteor shower spectacle. In some cases, pieces of this meteor (or meteors, we never do find out) crash around towns and cities and in doing so, unleash some sort of spore or virus that inflicts an almost rabid-like response. At first it is just in the animals, but that begins to change and afflict the humans not long after.
Our main character, Lauren, a 17-year-old female, is a great lead and one that we can get behind. Her father is a police officer and as things go south, they manage to meet up and try their best to get to the mayor and the sheriff to figure out what’s going on and how to stop the carnage.
Carnage. I’m not sure if this word does the body count and the splatter justice. If I’d read a physical copy, I’m sure at some point viscera would begin to leak out of the pages. There’s just that much.
We also get a great secondary character in Shay and we see how, naturally, a leader emerges and a new type of society will form in the aftermath of what happens.
This reminded me a lot of Garth Ennis’ brutal comic series ‘Crossed’ and I was all for it.
What I didn’t like: There is a massive, massive, massive amount of animal death in here. In this case it is 100% necessary as the virus affects animals first and turns them into blood-fuelled killing machines, so just know going in, there are some really difficult scenes.
Additionally, we get a pretty long, drawn-out description and introduction of a specific character. We learn about how they hunt like clockwork and how they ended up becoming a depraved killer of humans and how they went about killing their first human. Ultimately, this was a significant amount of time spent on a character that overall didn’t factor much into this story at all, other than a few action scenes. Maybe there was a sequel planned or in the works where we’d learn more, but within the confines of this story, this just felt a bit excessive.
Why you should buy this: Patrick Hicks is a truly splendid author, one of those authors who writes a drama/depth piece and then layers a significant amount of blood over top of that story. Think about ‘Broken Shells,’ ‘Revolver’ or his still-in-progress ‘Salem Hawley’ series. ‘Mass Hysteria’ is no different. Layered storytelling that’ll suck you in and make you push on, even as the bodies pile up.
Great stuff.
Over the last few years, I’ve read a number of Patrick Hicks works and have really come to love his style of storytelling and the way he infuses each story with a larger idea, a deeper meaning.
Throughout this time, I’ve also had one of his novels sitting there on my TBR growing depressed that I was passing it over time and time again.
Heck, even David Sodergren was practically begging me to read ‘Mass Hysteria’ and when it gets to the point of him sending videos of his pug Boris with the caption saying “why won’t you read this book, Steve? why?” you know you need to get to it. (For the record, David never sent me those videos but he almost did beg, like almost, like ‘you read that book yet?’ level begging, so there’s that.)
Anyways, I went into this fairly blind, other than knowing that my love of ‘The Blood Beast Mutations’ by Carl John Lee and ‘Crazytimes’ by Scott Cole had similar plots and levels of gore.
What I liked: The story picks up the morning after Earth is treated to a huge meteor shower spectacle. In some cases, pieces of this meteor (or meteors, we never do find out) crash around towns and cities and in doing so, unleash some sort of spore or virus that inflicts an almost rabid-like response. At first it is just in the animals, but that begins to change and afflict the humans not long after.
Our main character, Lauren, a 17-year-old female, is a great lead and one that we can get behind. Her father is a police officer and as things go south, they manage to meet up and try their best to get to the mayor and the sheriff to figure out what’s going on and how to stop the carnage.
Carnage. I’m not sure if this word does the body count and the splatter justice. If I’d read a physical copy, I’m sure at some point viscera would begin to leak out of the pages. There’s just that much.
We also get a great secondary character in Shay and we see how, naturally, a leader emerges and a new type of society will form in the aftermath of what happens.
This reminded me a lot of Garth Ennis’ brutal comic series ‘Crossed’ and I was all for it.
What I didn’t like: There is a massive, massive, massive amount of animal death in here. In this case it is 100% necessary as the virus affects animals first and turns them into blood-fuelled killing machines, so just know going in, there are some really difficult scenes.
Additionally, we get a pretty long, drawn-out description and introduction of a specific character. We learn about how they hunt like clockwork and how they ended up becoming a depraved killer of humans and how they went about killing their first human. Ultimately, this was a significant amount of time spent on a character that overall didn’t factor much into this story at all, other than a few action scenes. Maybe there was a sequel planned or in the works where we’d learn more, but within the confines of this story, this just felt a bit excessive.
Why you should buy this: Patrick Hicks is a truly splendid author, one of those authors who writes a drama/depth piece and then layers a significant amount of blood over top of that story. Think about ‘Broken Shells,’ ‘Revolver’ or his still-in-progress ‘Salem Hawley’ series. ‘Mass Hysteria’ is no different. Layered storytelling that’ll suck you in and make you push on, even as the bodies pile up.
Great stuff.
March 8, 2018
My original Mass Hysteria audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Here is a twist on the many, many zombie novels out there. Instead of humans being infected; it is the animals – all of them, dogs, cats, even cuddly rabbits and birds. Nowhere is safe as the creatures come after every person, from everywhere. Housepets are the most dangerous as they quickly attack and kill their owners. Run into the woods and you’ll be attacked by squirrels, deer, and wolves, into the streets and the birds overhead will peck out your eyes. It is indeed mayhem.
The story follows Lauren as she searches for her boyfriend through the horrors of a collapsing world. Another twist on the story, which I won’t reveal here, gives the humans a strange and horrific means of survival. Humanity as they knew it is gone, replaced by something, well, different. But survival is survival and Hicks definitely knows how to weave a horror story. Ride the roller coaster and be rewarded for your effort at the end.
Joe Hempel performs the story. He is well experienced with horror stories and delivers with his familiar and professional voice. He is one of those performers who doesn’t get in the way of the story, understated and comfortable, with easily discernible character voices. The production quality is excellent as one would expect from a seasoned pro.
If you like your horror bloody and strange, you are in the right place. Mass Hysteria is a unique twist in a crowded field. Definitely not for the squeamish or easily offended. It is a kind of kitchen sink of horror, blood, sex and evil, but hey, why not. Call me sick (you’ll know why when you finish), but I loved the ending. For horror fans looking for something different, well worth a listen.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
Here is a twist on the many, many zombie novels out there. Instead of humans being infected; it is the animals – all of them, dogs, cats, even cuddly rabbits and birds. Nowhere is safe as the creatures come after every person, from everywhere. Housepets are the most dangerous as they quickly attack and kill their owners. Run into the woods and you’ll be attacked by squirrels, deer, and wolves, into the streets and the birds overhead will peck out your eyes. It is indeed mayhem.
The story follows Lauren as she searches for her boyfriend through the horrors of a collapsing world. Another twist on the story, which I won’t reveal here, gives the humans a strange and horrific means of survival. Humanity as they knew it is gone, replaced by something, well, different. But survival is survival and Hicks definitely knows how to weave a horror story. Ride the roller coaster and be rewarded for your effort at the end.
Joe Hempel performs the story. He is well experienced with horror stories and delivers with his familiar and professional voice. He is one of those performers who doesn’t get in the way of the story, understated and comfortable, with easily discernible character voices. The production quality is excellent as one would expect from a seasoned pro.
If you like your horror bloody and strange, you are in the right place. Mass Hysteria is a unique twist in a crowded field. Definitely not for the squeamish or easily offended. It is a kind of kitchen sink of horror, blood, sex and evil, but hey, why not. Call me sick (you’ll know why when you finish), but I loved the ending. For horror fans looking for something different, well worth a listen.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
June 4, 2018
There are horror novels, and then there are HORROR novels. You know, the ones with blood dripping off the letters (and pages) and sinking deep into the pit of your soul, causing you to question the decency of humanity and existence itself. "Mass Hysteria", by Michael Patrick Hicks, certainly falls into this latter category.
As I started this book, I recognized a very Richard Laymon type vibe. Now I'll be the first one to say there are various degrees of horror, and I'm not typically a fan of the bloody gore for gore's sake type of tale with little character development and a whole lot of shock factor. I was expecting Hicks to go in this direction with the set up of the novel, as this would be the path of least resistance, so to speak. Thankfully, and while there is more gore and shock factor in this book than three typical horror novels combined, Hicks has the chops to create more than cardboard characters, allowing those terrors to actually have an impact.
This was a brutal read, but like watching a car accident take place in front of you, I couldn't stop myself from watching. And every time I thought I knew where Hicks was going with the story, he would turn things on its head. This is a novel where no one is safe, where the most awful depravities take place, but I couldn't help but smile at its conclusion and the dark journey through which I was brought. Masterful storytelling, but NOT for the feint of heart. You've been warned.
As I started this book, I recognized a very Richard Laymon type vibe. Now I'll be the first one to say there are various degrees of horror, and I'm not typically a fan of the bloody gore for gore's sake type of tale with little character development and a whole lot of shock factor. I was expecting Hicks to go in this direction with the set up of the novel, as this would be the path of least resistance, so to speak. Thankfully, and while there is more gore and shock factor in this book than three typical horror novels combined, Hicks has the chops to create more than cardboard characters, allowing those terrors to actually have an impact.
This was a brutal read, but like watching a car accident take place in front of you, I couldn't stop myself from watching. And every time I thought I knew where Hicks was going with the story, he would turn things on its head. This is a novel where no one is safe, where the most awful depravities take place, but I couldn't help but smile at its conclusion and the dark journey through which I was brought. Masterful storytelling, but NOT for the feint of heart. You've been warned.
March 31, 2024
“Men and women clashed with the beasts, rending one another with tooth and nail, knives and claws.”
A violent upheaval in the animal kingdom hierarchy leaves humans at the mercy of creatures they once hunted and domesticated. Deer, birds, dogs, and more brutalize the surprised people, and soon the town of Falls Breath becomes a bloody war zone. The recent meteor shower may be the root of these abnormal behaviours, but is it too late for the world as we know it?
I really enjoyed this page turner of a story. There’s never a dull moment, and I really liked following along with the main characters as they tried to survive. I’d love to see a sequel or an epilogue of what comes next for humanity.
There is violence towards animals throughout the tale, but it’s an integral part of it. I honestly don’t know what I’d do if my beloved dogs turned on me. This story definitely made me question how I’d react in some of the horrifying situations the characters ended up in.
A violent upheaval in the animal kingdom hierarchy leaves humans at the mercy of creatures they once hunted and domesticated. Deer, birds, dogs, and more brutalize the surprised people, and soon the town of Falls Breath becomes a bloody war zone. The recent meteor shower may be the root of these abnormal behaviours, but is it too late for the world as we know it?
I really enjoyed this page turner of a story. There’s never a dull moment, and I really liked following along with the main characters as they tried to survive. I’d love to see a sequel or an epilogue of what comes next for humanity.
There is violence towards animals throughout the tale, but it’s an integral part of it. I honestly don’t know what I’d do if my beloved dogs turned on me. This story definitely made me question how I’d react in some of the horrifying situations the characters ended up in.
August 17, 2017
Review: MASS HYSTERIA by Michael Patrick Hicks
Over decades, humanity has worried about an apocalypse, constructing disparate possibilities: nuclear war, comets, asteroids, meteors, extraterrestrial invasions, even eclipses (as earlier generations feared). In the last several decades, we've also learned to fear chemical and biological warfare, and genetically engineered or naturally occurring pandemics. Don't forget our Sun's delivery of solar flares, electromagnetic pulses, and coronal mass ejections. It's enough to make a thinking person hide.
MASS HYSTERIA very neatly ties several possibilities into one implacable package, delivering the horror straight to Earth in a tide of meteor impacts. You can run, but not very far and not very fast. I say "implacable" and that is exactly the definition of this one-size-fits-all pandemic: first animals, next humans (who prove to be another species of animal after all--there is no human "high moral ground" here. Kindness, compassion, even family feeling, are eradicated in an instant, virulently and graphically so.)
MASS HYSTERIA (the title proves literally true, of many species) is contemporary science fiction coupled with extreme horror. It is not-not-NOT for the faint of heart. It is not for the easily-offended. If you are an animal lover, watch out. The world as we know it has become a massively ugly mess, and survival means strength, swiftness, and base instincts; even then, survival is not guaranteed. Every single living being is pitted against all others.
That said, I was tremendously excited for the opportunity to review MASS HYSTERIA. That excitement continued throughout the book and on to the ("Oh my! I can't believe it devolved to this!") end. The plotting stayed consistent throughout. So yes, I shouldn't have been startled at the ending. Author Michael Patrick Hicks transported me to a world where the old phrase "dog-eat-dog" can't begin to do justice. He made this new situation unending and plausible. May it never come to pass.
Over decades, humanity has worried about an apocalypse, constructing disparate possibilities: nuclear war, comets, asteroids, meteors, extraterrestrial invasions, even eclipses (as earlier generations feared). In the last several decades, we've also learned to fear chemical and biological warfare, and genetically engineered or naturally occurring pandemics. Don't forget our Sun's delivery of solar flares, electromagnetic pulses, and coronal mass ejections. It's enough to make a thinking person hide.
MASS HYSTERIA very neatly ties several possibilities into one implacable package, delivering the horror straight to Earth in a tide of meteor impacts. You can run, but not very far and not very fast. I say "implacable" and that is exactly the definition of this one-size-fits-all pandemic: first animals, next humans (who prove to be another species of animal after all--there is no human "high moral ground" here. Kindness, compassion, even family feeling, are eradicated in an instant, virulently and graphically so.)
MASS HYSTERIA (the title proves literally true, of many species) is contemporary science fiction coupled with extreme horror. It is not-not-NOT for the faint of heart. It is not for the easily-offended. If you are an animal lover, watch out. The world as we know it has become a massively ugly mess, and survival means strength, swiftness, and base instincts; even then, survival is not guaranteed. Every single living being is pitted against all others.
That said, I was tremendously excited for the opportunity to review MASS HYSTERIA. That excitement continued throughout the book and on to the ("Oh my! I can't believe it devolved to this!") end. The plotting stayed consistent throughout. So yes, I shouldn't have been startled at the ending. Author Michael Patrick Hicks transported me to a world where the old phrase "dog-eat-dog" can't begin to do justice. He made this new situation unending and plausible. May it never come to pass.
September 29, 2017
As seen on The Ghastly Grimoire.
Wow. Okay, I honestly felt I should have received some sort of warning before I opened this book! That aside, once I swallowed the surprise I received and accepted the book for what it is, I actually enjoyed several it. Mass Hysteria by Michael Patrick Hicks approaches the days after the apocalypse with a complete overhaul of social hierarchy in the most gruesome of ways.
In the wake of a meteor falling and bringing with it a virus appearing as an airborne variety of rabies (which is a much appreciated change from nuclear disaster and zombie outbreaks), several members of a small community in Michigan quickly find themselves fighting for their lives. Hicks’s gorefest begins shortly after and readers quickly discover that this is a writer that doesn’t hold back – my kind of man, honestly.
One of the things that strike me as most disturbing and simultaneously teasing of Hicks’s work is the sheer fact that he introduces us to several characters in intimate ways. Readers are given just enough of a taste of the good guys, too much of the bad, and justice? Well, there sure isn’t enough of that after the world’s ended.
I cannot stress enough how graphic this book is, just as I cannot think of any words devoid of spoilers to prepare readers for what the journey they might embark on when they open Mass Hysteria‘s pages. What I can say is this: under all the horrific elements that bury this book, Hicks explores the most depraved of all: human nature at its worst.
I gladly look forward to reading more of this author’s work. A special thanks to NetGalley and High Fever Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Wow. Okay, I honestly felt I should have received some sort of warning before I opened this book! That aside, once I swallowed the surprise I received and accepted the book for what it is, I actually enjoyed several it. Mass Hysteria by Michael Patrick Hicks approaches the days after the apocalypse with a complete overhaul of social hierarchy in the most gruesome of ways.
In the wake of a meteor falling and bringing with it a virus appearing as an airborne variety of rabies (which is a much appreciated change from nuclear disaster and zombie outbreaks), several members of a small community in Michigan quickly find themselves fighting for their lives. Hicks’s gorefest begins shortly after and readers quickly discover that this is a writer that doesn’t hold back – my kind of man, honestly.
One of the things that strike me as most disturbing and simultaneously teasing of Hicks’s work is the sheer fact that he introduces us to several characters in intimate ways. Readers are given just enough of a taste of the good guys, too much of the bad, and justice? Well, there sure isn’t enough of that after the world’s ended.
I cannot stress enough how graphic this book is, just as I cannot think of any words devoid of spoilers to prepare readers for what the journey they might embark on when they open Mass Hysteria‘s pages. What I can say is this: under all the horrific elements that bury this book, Hicks explores the most depraved of all: human nature at its worst.
I gladly look forward to reading more of this author’s work. A special thanks to NetGalley and High Fever Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
April 29, 2019
A wild and extreme ride into an apocalypse.
Meteors seem to spark a change in the animal life on Earth. The sweetest and cuddliest of our furry friends suddenly become ravenous beasts, mad with bloodlust, and it isn't long before whatever is causing this is spreading to humans, turning them into sentient cannibals and fiends.
All the extreme sex and violence you could want is present here, and I'll admit to nearly gagging on more than one occasion. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing, not if you enjoy extreme horror. I'm typically more of a mainstream sort, but on occasion, I like to see where the envelope has been repositioned, and MASS HYSTERIA is out near the new boundary. Still, it's a well-written tale, one I wouldn't quite call a zombie story (that word is never used in the book), but it certainly has some similarities to the genre. While that genre is tired and worn now, Hicks manages to turn it on its head enough with sufficient originality and spin to make me never feel I was reading a zombie story.
The characters are pretty well drawn and the story is interesting and savage. Any extreme horror fans should feel right at home here and enjoy what's being offered. If you're not a fan of or have yet to taste extreme horror, just be warned that you're in for something you may not be prepared for. Wrap your head around that, and I think you'll have a good time like I did.
Meteors seem to spark a change in the animal life on Earth. The sweetest and cuddliest of our furry friends suddenly become ravenous beasts, mad with bloodlust, and it isn't long before whatever is causing this is spreading to humans, turning them into sentient cannibals and fiends.
All the extreme sex and violence you could want is present here, and I'll admit to nearly gagging on more than one occasion. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing, not if you enjoy extreme horror. I'm typically more of a mainstream sort, but on occasion, I like to see where the envelope has been repositioned, and MASS HYSTERIA is out near the new boundary. Still, it's a well-written tale, one I wouldn't quite call a zombie story (that word is never used in the book), but it certainly has some similarities to the genre. While that genre is tired and worn now, Hicks manages to turn it on its head enough with sufficient originality and spin to make me never feel I was reading a zombie story.
The characters are pretty well drawn and the story is interesting and savage. Any extreme horror fans should feel right at home here and enjoy what's being offered. If you're not a fan of or have yet to taste extreme horror, just be warned that you're in for something you may not be prepared for. Wrap your head around that, and I think you'll have a good time like I did.
August 28, 2017
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Long a fan of the dystopian, apocalyptic genre, I had thought this would be a fine addition to my library. Unfortunately, I felt that the book was graphic to the point of vomiting, and, in my opinion, a bit of a cheat at the end...only my opinion.
Long a fan of the dystopian, apocalyptic genre, I had thought this would be a fine addition to my library. Unfortunately, I felt that the book was graphic to the point of vomiting, and, in my opinion, a bit of a cheat at the end...only my opinion.
September 17, 2019
It's well written but it wasn't for me. I'm not averse to gore but the splatter punk sub genre of horror just doesn't do it for me. If you want to read just the vilest, most disgusting descriptions of various extremely violent deaths and the worst possible human behavior (I mean THE WORST), maybe this is for you. I got through it mainly because Michael Patrick Hicks is a great writer. Two stars based on the quality of the writing.
November 7, 2018
Not for the faint of heart, Mass Hysteria is a crazy, action-packed thrill ride through what looks to be the end of civilization as we know it. Beneath the violence, gore, and unspeakable acts, one is privy to mankind's most basic instincts and inner struggles. Just don't read it with your pet in the room.
May 30, 2019
3.5 Stars
Full review to come
Full review to come
August 15, 2017
I received this arc from Netgalley.
Great read!! A truly horrifying book. Fast paced and never a dull moment. Really could not put this down. Highly recommended to all fans of horror.
Great read!! A truly horrifying book. Fast paced and never a dull moment. Really could not put this down. Highly recommended to all fans of horror.
July 31, 2017
**I received this book free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
All spoilers will be tagged.
This...was a tough read for me. The story follows a few very likable characters as they try to survive in a world gone mad; and when i say "mad", I mean in every gory sense of the word.
A meteor shower results in a virus spreading that causes animals to go rabid and planes to fall from the sky.
We are introduced to a few classic protagonists. They fit the bill of lovable small town people who are rising to the challenge and as a reader, we hope they survive and win.
However, a lot of detail also goes into the characters that we are meant to dislike. Like backstory amount of detail. This is an unusual feature for this genre. Unless you want to develop a villain-like antagonist, I seems inefficient to spend so much time trying to get the reader to hate someone.
Writing style and pacing were both excellent. A significant portion of the opening chapters were action packed, high intensity moments. It reflected the chaos of the story perfectly. It really made the book hard to put down.
Plot-wise the story felt a little inconclusive. We find out very little detail beyond characters own theories. I suppose this reflects the reality of the situation but it did make the story feel somewhat unsatisfying.
As a brief summary;
What it did well: Good setting, likable protagonists and excellent pacing and writing style. Clearly a really talented writer.
Personal criticisms: Pushed me passed the point of what I was comfortable reading, material-wise. Story felt a little unresolved.
I would be hesitant to recommend to someone unless I knew they were comfortable reading disturbing material.
All spoilers will be tagged.
This...was a tough read for me. The story follows a few very likable characters as they try to survive in a world gone mad; and when i say "mad", I mean in every gory sense of the word.
A meteor shower results in a virus spreading that causes animals to go rabid and planes to fall from the sky.
We are introduced to a few classic protagonists. They fit the bill of lovable small town people who are rising to the challenge and as a reader, we hope they survive and win.
However, a lot of detail also goes into the characters that we are meant to dislike. Like backstory amount of detail. This is an unusual feature for this genre. Unless you want to develop a villain-like antagonist, I seems inefficient to spend so much time trying to get the reader to hate someone.
Writing style and pacing were both excellent. A significant portion of the opening chapters were action packed, high intensity moments. It reflected the chaos of the story perfectly. It really made the book hard to put down.
Plot-wise the story felt a little inconclusive. We find out very little detail beyond characters own theories. I suppose this reflects the reality of the situation but it did make the story feel somewhat unsatisfying.
As a brief summary;
What it did well: Good setting, likable protagonists and excellent pacing and writing style. Clearly a really talented writer.
Personal criticisms: Pushed me passed the point of what I was comfortable reading, material-wise. Story felt a little unresolved.
I would be hesitant to recommend to someone unless I knew they were comfortable reading disturbing material.
June 26, 2019
In May of this year, I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Patrick Hicks in person at StokerCon. Up until then, I had only read his novella BROKEN SHELLS, which I loved. After that read, I knew that I wanted to explore more of his writing. Meeting him in person only increased my interest, as he was so kind and cool to talk to. At the convention, I picked up a copy of MASS HYSTERIA, knowing that it was perhaps his most brutal story to date. I try not to read a lot of reviews until I've read a book for myself and form my own judgments, so I had only seen a few blurbs about this novel prior to jumping into the story. I was aware that it fits within the splatterpunk category, and unsure if this is something I'd be into.
Well, let me tell you something. It turns out that I do enjoy this subgenre, as long as it makes sense within the story, and the writing is done well. Hicks is an excellent writer, and reading this story was like viewing a full length horror film in my mind. There were a few scenes that I found difficult to stomach, and had it been a movie, I would've averted my eyes during those scenes. However, those cringeworthy moments never made me want to put the book down. The action starts early on, and it doesn't let up until the end. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's a thrill ride from start to finish, with some extremely vile characters, yet protagonists that had me invested. Also, I have serious love for stories that are set here in Michigan, so that piece added to my interest in this work (and made for some fun bookstagram opportunities). I was able to picture a lot of the locations mentioned in the book, and that made it come to life for me.
I'm so glad I took a chance on this one, and I'm excited to check out more of Mike's work in the near future!
Well, let me tell you something. It turns out that I do enjoy this subgenre, as long as it makes sense within the story, and the writing is done well. Hicks is an excellent writer, and reading this story was like viewing a full length horror film in my mind. There were a few scenes that I found difficult to stomach, and had it been a movie, I would've averted my eyes during those scenes. However, those cringeworthy moments never made me want to put the book down. The action starts early on, and it doesn't let up until the end. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's a thrill ride from start to finish, with some extremely vile characters, yet protagonists that had me invested. Also, I have serious love for stories that are set here in Michigan, so that piece added to my interest in this work (and made for some fun bookstagram opportunities). I was able to picture a lot of the locations mentioned in the book, and that made it come to life for me.
I'm so glad I took a chance on this one, and I'm excited to check out more of Mike's work in the near future!
January 17, 2022
Brutal is the only way to describe this novel by Michael Patrick Hicks. This is one of those that you don't need to see the trigger warnings on. Assume that if it's a trigger, it's in this book. Necrophilia, bestiality, gore, animal death, child death...the list truly goes on and on. I distinctly remember listening to this while out for a walk and the words that came out of my mouth were "Oh hell no". Truly, if you have any triggers, scroll on by. You have to be able to take a true unflinching look at yourself to see exactly what you can handle. Hicks doesn't waste any time taking you into the graphic depravity of the human mind. Savage and unyielding, this extreme horror is not a story for the faint at heart.
Website | Twitter | Pinterest
Website | Twitter | Pinterest
September 24, 2017
I loved the idea of this book. A meteor shower crosses paths with Earth, unleashing an alien virus that turns all animals against us. What’s not to love for this horror fan.
Came into this prepared for some bloody chaos and got it and got it and got it. Once the animals attack, and it happens fairly quickly, it’s relentless.
I feel I should stress that this is very graphic and gory. The scenes ain’t pretty. Not supposed to be. When I read about a herd of deer working together to ambush and kill people, I ate it up. So many kinds of animals and ways to die, I couldn’t wait to see what the author threw at me next. And got a huge shock at what he did.
A must read for all fans of horror.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
Came into this prepared for some bloody chaos and got it and got it and got it. Once the animals attack, and it happens fairly quickly, it’s relentless.
I feel I should stress that this is very graphic and gory. The scenes ain’t pretty. Not supposed to be. When I read about a herd of deer working together to ambush and kill people, I ate it up. So many kinds of animals and ways to die, I couldn’t wait to see what the author threw at me next. And got a huge shock at what he did.
A must read for all fans of horror.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
August 14, 2017
When I started reading “Mass Hysteria” by Michael Patrick Hicks initially I had a sinking feeling abandonment would arrive after twenty or thirty pages, when you have as many books stacked on your Kindle as I do one has to be ruthless… However, I was pleasantly surprised by this very violent, equally dumb, but pulsating horror science fiction crossover which hit top gear from page one and hurtled into car crash territory. It was a pretty brief read, but that’s a compliment, as I sped through it in no time.
I got the impression the author was a fan of trashy straight-to-video films which were popular in the 1980s, everything from “Night of the Creeps”, to “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” and even the much older “The Birds” by Alfred Hitchcock. At one point “Critters” is mentioned in the novel, so I reckon I was on the right track. You know the sort of movie scene I am talking about; small town isolated from the outside world and suddenly lots of weird stuff starts to happen. Throw in a few randy teenagers, random violence, a confused sheriff and you’re good to go! “Mass Hysteria” was far from original, but more than made up for it in wild set pieces, sex, blood and general craziness.
The book hits the ground running from page one when poor Melisa is savaged and killed by her pet dog Buckley in pretty graphic fashion. At the same time the local area has been enjoying an amazing meteor storm over the previous few nights, with a few landing close to the town where the entire novel never strays from. That’s all the back story you need, as there is obviously something weird about the meteors which quickly make all pets and animals go bat-shit crazy.
And I mean CRAZY. Within a few pages you have deer smashing into cars, pit bulls savaging babies, labrador’s mauling volleyball players and killer cats hunting in packs. Basically the natural order of things has changed and humans quickly become the prey over a few brief hours. I enjoyed the inventive and entertaining ways various humans are despatched including some gleefully nasty scenes. Hector the cat was a particular favourite, after trying to kill a baby and being thrown out of the family home, he so immune to pain the bone was visible from his skull after he repeatedly throwing himself at the window to get back inside to his owner. Ouch.
The characters are pretty sketchily drawn, undoubtedly similar to those B-movies I mentioned earlier in the review. Lauren is the main girl lead, and when she is introduced is more interested in getting hot and sweaty with her older boyfriend, before quickly showing some girl-power and morphing into a spunky and engaging heroine. Hendrix was another fun character, a deputy policewoman, who has a big part to play particularly in the second half of the book. Lauren’s father is the local policeman who is instantly overwhelmed by the local disaster, other characters die horribly and I got the impression the author enjoyed writing this fine piece of trash tremendously.
So by about 25% into this short novel we head into full apocalypse mode, but a tad later the author takes us into a clever new direction. I am not going to reveal what this is, except to say it was dumb yucky fun and gave the novel a certain level of originality it previously lacked and raises it above the pack. A word of warning – the novel finished a bit prematurely for me, my Kindle was saying 80%, so I was waiting for the big finale, only to find out that the ‘other’ 20% was a short-story. I really liked the final sequence, and I did not expect the story to finish so abruptly, and it irritated me somewhat. The author should be pleased with that irritation though as I wanted the other 20%! Overall though, by no means a classic of the genre, this was a very solid and well written slice of horror science fiction which was fun, horrible, fun from start to finish.
I got the impression the author was a fan of trashy straight-to-video films which were popular in the 1980s, everything from “Night of the Creeps”, to “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” and even the much older “The Birds” by Alfred Hitchcock. At one point “Critters” is mentioned in the novel, so I reckon I was on the right track. You know the sort of movie scene I am talking about; small town isolated from the outside world and suddenly lots of weird stuff starts to happen. Throw in a few randy teenagers, random violence, a confused sheriff and you’re good to go! “Mass Hysteria” was far from original, but more than made up for it in wild set pieces, sex, blood and general craziness.
The book hits the ground running from page one when poor Melisa is savaged and killed by her pet dog Buckley in pretty graphic fashion. At the same time the local area has been enjoying an amazing meteor storm over the previous few nights, with a few landing close to the town where the entire novel never strays from. That’s all the back story you need, as there is obviously something weird about the meteors which quickly make all pets and animals go bat-shit crazy.
And I mean CRAZY. Within a few pages you have deer smashing into cars, pit bulls savaging babies, labrador’s mauling volleyball players and killer cats hunting in packs. Basically the natural order of things has changed and humans quickly become the prey over a few brief hours. I enjoyed the inventive and entertaining ways various humans are despatched including some gleefully nasty scenes. Hector the cat was a particular favourite, after trying to kill a baby and being thrown out of the family home, he so immune to pain the bone was visible from his skull after he repeatedly throwing himself at the window to get back inside to his owner. Ouch.
The characters are pretty sketchily drawn, undoubtedly similar to those B-movies I mentioned earlier in the review. Lauren is the main girl lead, and when she is introduced is more interested in getting hot and sweaty with her older boyfriend, before quickly showing some girl-power and morphing into a spunky and engaging heroine. Hendrix was another fun character, a deputy policewoman, who has a big part to play particularly in the second half of the book. Lauren’s father is the local policeman who is instantly overwhelmed by the local disaster, other characters die horribly and I got the impression the author enjoyed writing this fine piece of trash tremendously.
So by about 25% into this short novel we head into full apocalypse mode, but a tad later the author takes us into a clever new direction. I am not going to reveal what this is, except to say it was dumb yucky fun and gave the novel a certain level of originality it previously lacked and raises it above the pack. A word of warning – the novel finished a bit prematurely for me, my Kindle was saying 80%, so I was waiting for the big finale, only to find out that the ‘other’ 20% was a short-story. I really liked the final sequence, and I did not expect the story to finish so abruptly, and it irritated me somewhat. The author should be pleased with that irritation though as I wanted the other 20%! Overall though, by no means a classic of the genre, this was a very solid and well written slice of horror science fiction which was fun, horrible, fun from start to finish.
August 18, 2017
Don't read on a full stomach...
NOTE: This book has a small targeted audience.
If you are an aficionado of author Richard Laymon, especially his down and dirty books QUAKE or THE BEAST HOUSE series including THE CELLAR, you undoubtedly will like this book and the included novella CONSUMPTION.
This is horror at its bloodiest, guttiest and most shocking. I can usually handle this type of fiction - not a steady diet of it but once in awhile. But there were a few scenes in MASS HYSTERIA that had me queasy.
An alien virus falls with meteors onto the small town of Falls Breath, Michigan (and hints show that this is a worldwide event). All animal and bird life become vicious man-eating killers and then the virus crosses to humans.
The novella at the end CONSUMPTION tells of a select intimate dinner party with a twelve-course menu. I don't regret not being on the invite list.
The book does need a little more proofreading but you start not to notice the mistakes because the action on the pages is so over-the-top.
I received this book from High Fever Books through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.
NOTE: This book has a small targeted audience.
If you are an aficionado of author Richard Laymon, especially his down and dirty books QUAKE or THE BEAST HOUSE series including THE CELLAR, you undoubtedly will like this book and the included novella CONSUMPTION.
This is horror at its bloodiest, guttiest and most shocking. I can usually handle this type of fiction - not a steady diet of it but once in awhile. But there were a few scenes in MASS HYSTERIA that had me queasy.
An alien virus falls with meteors onto the small town of Falls Breath, Michigan (and hints show that this is a worldwide event). All animal and bird life become vicious man-eating killers and then the virus crosses to humans.
The novella at the end CONSUMPTION tells of a select intimate dinner party with a twelve-course menu. I don't regret not being on the invite list.
The book does need a little more proofreading but you start not to notice the mistakes because the action on the pages is so over-the-top.
I received this book from High Fever Books through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.
December 10, 2017
Wow. This was brutal, gory, shocking. In all fairness, the author warned me it might be more than I was expecting - and admittedly it was. But as a horror fan, I couldn't look away.
Maybe I'm unnaturally twisted, but scenes involving adult human deaths don't really bother me - make them as grisly as you like. Same with The Walking Dead. But. Involve animals or children, and I'm inclined to skim through the parts. Considering pets and wildlife are rabid and attacking - I'm sure you can fill in the blanks. You've been warned.
I've read several other books by this author, and he has a knack for creating kick-ass female characters. They play the hand they're dealt, and play it so very well. No curling into the fetal position and accepting their fate.
Because of the graphic nature of this book, I'd only recommend it to die-hard horror fans. And for those die-hard fans - you're in for a treat.
I received a copy of this book from the author.
Maybe I'm unnaturally twisted, but scenes involving adult human deaths don't really bother me - make them as grisly as you like. Same with The Walking Dead. But. Involve animals or children, and I'm inclined to skim through the parts. Considering pets and wildlife are rabid and attacking - I'm sure you can fill in the blanks. You've been warned.
I've read several other books by this author, and he has a knack for creating kick-ass female characters. They play the hand they're dealt, and play it so very well. No curling into the fetal position and accepting their fate.
Because of the graphic nature of this book, I'd only recommend it to die-hard horror fans. And for those die-hard fans - you're in for a treat.
I received a copy of this book from the author.
October 24, 2017
(Audiobook)
Very gory. Right off the bat, it's no holds bar descriptive in attacks and the aftermath.
It's less horror and more like horrid/shock value? I could really go without that clumped together, but it could be a sign of a well rounded literary education.
A variety of characters provide a 360 view of events (third person narration), which, also under different circumstances, is a positive trait.
The 'scientific' explanations sounded incredulously unrealistic....
A character who fornicates with the dead - animals and children .... Disgustingly sick, given the story description is supposed to be more of a sci fi horror. •Insert eye roll here•
Overall, although it clearly is NOT FOR ME, nor would I pick up anything else from this author.
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
Very gory. Right off the bat, it's no holds bar descriptive in attacks and the aftermath.
It's less horror and more like horrid/shock value? I could really go without that clumped together, but it could be a sign of a well rounded literary education.
A variety of characters provide a 360 view of events (third person narration), which, also under different circumstances, is a positive trait.
The 'scientific' explanations sounded incredulously unrealistic....
A character who fornicates with the dead - animals and children .... Disgustingly sick, given the story description is supposed to be more of a sci fi horror. •Insert eye roll here•
Overall, although it clearly is NOT FOR ME, nor would I pick up anything else from this author.
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
April 15, 2018
This was my 3rd read of this authors' work and I am continually impressed. Mass Hysteria was a fast read for me. From page one we are cast into the story of nature gone mad. After asteroids rain down upon the City of Traverse, all the animals, from the once sweet pet dog to the wild birds turn into vicious killing machines. No one is safe, especially Lauren, who with her father, must search for her boyfriend and stay alive. They soon come to the realization that there are no easy answers and the terror gains on them with each passing minute. Soon it is realized that not only have the animals been affected, but the people are changing also.
This is a story of bloody violence and horrific behavior by the animals, yes, but more so of the humans. The gore and carnage are of massive proportions.
Fans of Michael Patrick Hicks will easily fall under the gory spell of Mass Hysteria. If this is your first story of his, buckle in for a ride of hellish brutality.
This is a story of bloody violence and horrific behavior by the animals, yes, but more so of the humans. The gore and carnage are of massive proportions.
Fans of Michael Patrick Hicks will easily fall under the gory spell of Mass Hysteria. If this is your first story of his, buckle in for a ride of hellish brutality.
September 18, 2017
Stargazing turns into a battle for survival after a freak, alien meteor shower causes everyone, and everything in Falls Breath to go bat-shit crazy O.o
I'm usually not much of a sci-fi fan, but #MichiganMadman Michael Patrick Hicks gives us a fast, fun, and furious read right from page one!
Full Review
I'm usually not much of a sci-fi fan, but #MichiganMadman Michael Patrick Hicks gives us a fast, fun, and furious read right from page one!
Full Review
Want to read
January 20, 2018My good friend, Mallory, has written an exquisite and insight review, which is also quite amazing. She never ceases to astound me, writing succinctly and with the utmost relevance. Highly recommended.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Michael Patrick Hicks, congratulations on this epic publication. Mass Hysteria sounds fantastic, this is definitely something I look forward to reading. Thank you.
June 7, 2020
Engaging and fun read. That extreme horror warning on the cover is not to be taken lightly, though. Some parts of this one are pretty full-on.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews