Recent Press & Endorsements for DEPRIVATION

Publishers Weekly – “A chilling thriller … horror fans looking for unconventional scares will be grateful.” – Full Review

Kirkus Reviews – “In this cinematic thriller, crippling insomnia infects the tourists and residents of a small town following the appearance of a mysteriously silent orphan … A well-paced action thriller with a wide-eyed premise that works hard to shake readers awake.”

NB Magazine, Linda Hepworth (5 stars) – “Be prepared for sleepless nights, because once you start this multi-layered psychological thriller, you’ll find it impossible to put down . . . and when you’ve finished, you won’t be able to stop thinking about it!”

David Angsten, author of The Night-Sea Trilogy – “Freirich delivers thrills and suspense in some of the sharpest writing of any American author working today. The language is so precise, the details and disparate collection of vacation islanders so acutely observed, that when the seemingly impossible happens—no one on the island can sleep—you never doubt for an instant that the living nightmare that follows is terrifyingly real. Insomniacs be warned: this page-turner guarantees a very late night.”

Tom Epperson, author of Roberto to the Dark Tower Came and The Kind One – “A twisty psychological thriller that reminds us that the greatest monsters are to be found within.”

Alice Clark-Platts, author of The Flower Girls – “A rattling read! Claustrophobic, unsettling, visceral.”

Seb Doubinsky, award-winning author of The City-States Cycle series – “A beautifully crafted trap. At first, the reader imagines that it will be one of those classic horror-thriller books, as all the ingredients are there—a vacation island, likable but life-scarred characters, strange events leading to random violence and satisfying gore. And yes, you can absolutely read Deprivation as a great beach novel, along with the latest Stephen King, Peter Straub or Dean Koontz. But it conveys a much deeper and disturbing reflection on humanity, not far from Albert Camus’s The Plague, José Saramago’s Blindness or Josh Malerman’s Birdbox. Beyond the mystery lies the question on mass hysteria, modern technology and the slowly dissolving of empathy in our society. Extremely well written, with precise and convincing descriptions, realistic characters and deep-reaching plot, Deprivation is a must-read.”

Kurt Baumeister, author of Pax Americana – “Set in a sleep-starved beach town, Deprivation is a stark psycho-thriller told in prose that’s at once elegant, lucid, and more than a little hypnotic. With deft pacing, hip atmospherics, and above all, his brilliant style, Roy Freirich evokes the sensory distortions that come in transit between wakefulness and dreams. Truly, Deprivation is a rare piece of work, a thriller that succeeds as both art and entertainment.”

Keith Rosson, award-winning author of Smoke City and The Mercy of the Tide – “A smart literary thriller, Deprivation kept me guessing to the end.”

Reading Tonic – “Deprivation deals brilliantly with the topic of fear and mass psychology. It also shows how we are all interconnected and how much we influence each other with our words, actions, and gestures. So let them be kind with no exception.” – Full Review

Michelle Meng’s Blog – “Rich, deep action in a dry summer setting, this book is not your average thriller. Can a dreamless night bring you awake? This book will answer that question and many more. Not only is Freirich’s writing style unique and mysterious, it brings a great purpose to the plot.” – Full Review

Debra Gillis Book Blog – “Such a great premise: a whole island of sleep deprived characters and a mysterious lost child. Roy Freirich took the story beyond a clever idea and really explored human nature and crowd mentality. It is beautifully written in a visual style and I highly recommend it.” – Full Review

Mystery Suspense Reviews – “Spotlight on Deprivation by Roy Freirich” – Full Feature

Tar Heel Reader – “As one would expect with horror, violence and gore were present, but the story was about so much more. There were some underlying messages about society I found profound. I enjoyed the characters and the writing. I’m glad I stretched my genres a bit by picking this one up.” – Full Review

Books Beans & No Booze – “An island full of vacationers all the sudden can’t go to sleep… for days! Sleep deprivation makes people crazy and this book is a thriller. Really enjoyed it and can’t wait for more work from Freirich.”

Books I Like Book Blog – “What really stands out in Deprivation, is how well done the decent into madness that the inhabitants of Carratuck Island experience … Freirich has created a fine example of well written prose … that has a cinematic feel to it. It is fast paced and engaging, and is populated with a plethora of well-developed characters. Do yourself a favour and get this book.” – Full Review

Previous Reviews for WINGED CREATURES

Publishers Weekly – (Review of WINGED CREATURES) – “The survivors of a gun massacre struggle with the aftermath in Freirich’s stark, impressive debut. While emotionally charged, the narrative isn’t weighed down with sentiment as the characters search for, but don’t necessarily find, closure.”

Booklist – (Review of WINGED CREATURES) – “This well-crafted debut packs a wallop.”