Customer Reviews

14 (Unabridged)

Review of 14 by Peter Clines
5 stars

"14" is an exceptionally plotted horror novel, in the Classic sense, but it is also an exploding and exploratory sci fantasy (fantastical with elements of hard science). I found it totally riveting, a literal "I can't put this down" reading session. Author Peter Clines demonstrates a strong background in the classics of horror, as well as science fiction, steampunk, and alternate-world fantasy. I hesitate to say too much: the novel really deserves to be read, pondered, and savoured.

Nate is a minimum-wage, bored, data entry employee in Los Angeles. Unexpectedly, he finds himself in need of a residence, as one of his roommates is marrying and the other one is moving back to San Francisco, and his salary won't cover their house. An acquaintance mentions an apartment building with a vacancy where the rents are incredibly low (focus is on the adjective "incredibly") so Nate immediately checks into it, discovering the rent really is that low, and moves in. It's not long before he, in conjunction with some of the other tenants, begins to investigate, and to discover the reason for the low rent, not to mention padlocked apartments, doors without doorknobs, a sub-basement, and an elevator that has not run since the building's inception, in the last years of the 19th century.

Empathetic characters and a truly expansive imaginative field of play made "14" a favourite of mine, and a re-read. Do yourself a favour, and don't miss out.

I reviewed a complimentary e-book copy in return for my fair and impartial review.

A thoroughly enjoyable steampunk thriller. This is like a cross between Stephen King and a grittier version of Cassandra Clare - and that's meant as a compliment. It's pacy and has just enough pseudo-science to be believable, without becoming nerdy or boring. There's also a bit of romance, tragedy, and comedy thrown in for good measure. I hadn't come across Peter Clines before, but have subsequently got hold of some of his short stories and will look forward to reading more of his stuff in time. Would recommend this.

OK, I listened to this in the car, but it was the unabridged version, so I think I can comment here. This started off as a slow burner, and then gradually and systematically cranked up the tension. As an ensemble piece it works really well, and it references to contemporary film and TV made the characters seem more real. I won't give anything away about the plot, but tying in some of the madder 20th century science made it very believable. I'm off to find another story by the same author!

Thoroughly enjoyable and downright bizarre. Clines has mixed horror, sci-fi, comedy and weird and it actually works!

The idea of a house with secrets I thought was quite refreshing and I enjoyed the other-worldly element that Clines mixed in. The references to Lovecraft and pop culture had me chuckling, especially the very indiscreet way of name-dropping Walter Bishop in the middle of a sentence. I know not everyone will know who Walter Bishop is but I do and I found it funny.

The set-up was done very well and all the characters were described with such normalcy that it was very easy to depict them. The action did taper off somewhat about half way through and got a bit too reliant on info-dumping, but then it seemed Clines just snapped out of that writing slump and turned the book around.

Original, well thought out, well written (for the most part) and an ending I did not predict (a rarity indeed). Highly recommended if you're into sci-fi with a bit of a modern twist.

Just could not stay interested in the book. This might have been because of my post operation hand trouble but I think it's more likely to have been the clichéd way the whole thing was written.

I found 14 on a random browse through Audible, but the author's name name was instantly familiar to me as the author of Ex-Heroes. I hadn't heard anything about 14 before I started listening, so I went in completely blind - I didn't even read the synopsis.

Nate is an average guy, with an average job - something that is becoming more and more prevalent in horror novels and it's a damn good thing. There's nothing worse than the main character turning out to be either a) ex-Army/Navy/Black-Ops; or b) completely untrained in combat but puts Macgyver to shame, and I quite liked him as a character. Although there's nothing special about him to make him memorable, I liked his tenacity and the fact that things didn't just fall into place for him. There's a whole cast of characters in the apartment building, but Veek with her sarcastic, sharp wit was definitely one of my favourites. The only one that didn't really work for me was Xela - I could see where Clines was trying to go with her, but just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

As for the actual plot itself, I really didn't see it coming - I thought this would be a standard haunted house, ghosty kinda story, but it was far more complex and intricate than that, and the last part of the book gave me serious heeby-jeebies.

I really enjoyed 14 as a horror novel with a touch of other elements, with interesting characters and a mystery thrown in for good measure. There were a couple of plot lines, especially regarding the history of some of the characters, that didn't feel completely tied up, but also fit in with the mystery element of the book.

The audio version is quite good, I enjoyed the narration and it fit well with the feel of the book, right down to giving me literal goosebumps at the climax.

Totally loved it, ive always read about books people are `unable` to put down....this one went everywhere with me on my kindle. Great story wonderful characters and a mystery/horror/thriller...well everything you could want.
LOved it loved it loved it!

Peter Clines cant be saying now to be a newbie, he already has several books, all by permutted press, that are quite good, easy to read and captivating. the EX series is great, a very nice mix of zoombie land and super heroes that are quite human at core (waiting for the third release!) and this 14, a quite fresh new book.
as most of his books, they are in los Angeles.
14 is about new friends, the meaning of one own life or purpose in life and the day to day difficulties that turn to be more important and significant than just day to day living.
this book is fast, you can read it in a couple of days, characters are well developed and the story is quite fascinating and intriguing at least until the last chapters where the book becomes a bit more obvious.
I would definetly reccomend it! nice mixture between Lost in an appartment building, Men in Black, FRIENDS and the hitchhiker guide to the galaxy with a bit of Narnia...
It could make an excellent movie as the book is quite visual. no doubt someone intelligent around might transform it into a movie...opening of room 14, although little explained (some more feasable scientific theories would have been nice) is quite surprising and nice!
I would also reccomend the EX series from peter clines.

This is a fantastic book. I Really enjoyed it all the way through. Ill be keeping an eye of Clines books from now on.

I'd read and enjoyed Cline's Ex-Heroes and Ex-Patriots, and once you know the concept you know exactly what to expect - superheroes after the zombie apocalypse. The kind of thing you enjoy, but are secretly glad that you have a kindle so people on the train can't see what you're reading.

14 is a much smarter story - a proper mystery, with a slow build-up of curiosity and dread, and a brilliant pay-off. Try not to read too much about it, and enjoy it as the mysteries unfold. It's littered with pop culture references that tell you Clines is writing the kind of story he loves for readers who love that same stuff (Lost, Scooby Doo, Ghostbusters, Fringe). In it's way, just as geeky as the Ex- series, but much more audaciously and originally so.