The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Monsters in the Hallway
Because Monsters in the Hallway was Book of the Day, some of our most trusted members have carefully looked over the cover, the description, and other aspects of this book as a part of purchase-intent focus group. We then asked each participant in the focus group if they planned to buy and read the book, and why they planned to buy and read the book or not. Their answer to that question and reasons are displayed below. We call this awesome feature The First Ten Focus Group.
Keep in mind, the responses from the members are not reviews. This is purchase-intent focus group which means the participants are people who have NOT yet bought or read your book. A purchase-intent focus group is an important and extremely useful marketing tool for any product, not just books. For other products, you might walk on the street and show people an item in a package and poll them about whether they would buy if or $X or not. These kind of focus groups are one of the ways big marketing companies find the ideal price points for products and test the effectiveness of different packaging. The focus group can help you identify your market so you how to target ads of your book, and it can (but may not) provide you new useful info about your "packaging" (e.g. your book cover, your book synopsis on Amazon, etc.). The point of the focus group comments is to give you information from people who have not bought or read your book about why they plan to buy your book which will help you in marketing the book. These are not reviews or critiques of your book because they are not from people have read the book. This is a marketing tool, not reviews. The trick of book marketing and book advertising is that you have to convince people who have not read your book yet that your book is worth buying and reading. For marketing, it doesn't matter much if people love your book after reading it if you cannot convince potential buyers before they read it that they will love it.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable. This is because we only poll about 20 or so readers, and all readers have to say "no" to almost all books. Over a million books are published each year. Even a very active reader cannot come close to even reading 1% of books out there.
This is also why publishing books is such a tough industry.
Vickie Noel
I like the looks of this book: title, cover, blurb, you name it. It's a detective book, one of my specific pleasures, so I certainly would have checked it out outside the program. I enjoyed the sample I read and have no intention of discontinuing, primarily because the problem was drawn out real quick and the business of the day didn't delay. In addition, the pace was steady, allowing me to flow easily with the story. I also liked how balanced the tone sounded, not too technical but not too simple to the point of stimulating boredom. The errors I noticed were quite minute and insignificant like, failure to add the second hyphen serving as a bracket while describing Stroud's car or the subject-verb disagreement in the sentence describing the "dead boy tossed under a table like some unwanted picnic scraps." As a result, I can confidently say that "Monsters in the Hallway" was professionally edited. The OBC review did contribute to my interest in the book but I will be reading further because of the sample itself.
First Ten review added on October 19, 2018, at 4:41 am by Vickie Noel.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Bianka Walter
This seems like a perfectly dark murder mystery with all the right sinister elements. After reading the OBC review, I was intrigued. After sampling the first ten pages, I would love to read further. Detective Shroud seems like the perfect protagonist for this story. A detective on the cusp of retirement who gets dragged into one last case which could break him. I also enjoyed Jason's character. He seems to have the perfect amount of torment in his life for someone that has gone through what his family and him have. The editing seemed good - I found no errors. I will be reading this book. It is right up my alley and the first ten pages gave me a great taste of what to expect.
First Ten review added on October 19, 2018, at 4:18 am by Bianka Walter.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
briellejee
Based on the cover and the title, I think I would have sampled this book due to its intriguing appeal. Usually monsters are found under the bed so I am curious as to what the author is referring to. As for the first few pages, the first sentence came on strong with the phrase of a boyscout being dead. It actually caught my attention and urged me to read more. However, the book lost its grip on my attention. There were too many details and the writing style didn't suit me. There were too many things happening at once. I don't know who is also the main character. Is it Detective Joe? Jason? The dead boy? If the first few chapters were some sort of introduction to the murder case, it would have been set as a prologue as to not confuse the readers. The plot is also too general at the beginning but it sounds promising. This book may not be for me but would gladly recommend it to anyone who likes this genre. Thus, I might not be reading the rest of the book. There were no noticeable errors and the official OBC review did say it is such an extraordinary work but the writing style isn't for me.
First Ten review added on October 19, 2018, at 3:40 am by briellejee.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Annelore Trujillo
I would have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, title and cover. It seemed like an interesting C/T/M/H book, and I was interested in the time period. After reading the first ten pages, I will be finishing this book. I loved the writing so far. I thought the book did a great job of interspersing background information within the actual story. For example, it gave background about Dells Pond without really cutting off the story. Most books don't do this, so I was impressed. I want to continue reading to find out if Jason's father really committed the murder or not. And if he didn't, who did? The book did seem to be professionally edited, and so far there wasn't anything I disliked.
First Ten review added on October 19, 2018, at 2:57 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Fu Zaila
The book description made me believe that the book would be fluid and smoothly written, but going by the sample, that wasn't the case. I liked the mysterious writing style and the vivid descriptions of the 'rubber ice'. But I felt that the sentences were too long which made it difficult to read. There wasn't anything else that I didn't like. The sample was clearly professionally edited since I couldn't find any mistakes. I won't be reading the book since I wasn't drawn to the story.
First Ten review added on October 19, 2018, at 1:39 am by Fu Zaila.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
va2016
The cover and the title are not indicative of the story in the book. The Amazon summary of the book gives a clear overview of the story. There are 12 Amazon customer reviews which give an average 5 out of 5 stars rating for the book. Since I liked the plot described in the Amazon summary, I would have sampled the book even if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the start to be pretty interesting, with Detective Joe starting to work on the case. In a town where only parking violations have been the major offense for the past 30 years, a murder is unheard of, and the narration describes how Joe is intrigued and starts to work on the case. Based on the narration of these events, I figured I would enjoy reading the book, so I am going to read this book in full. I found the book to be professionally edited. I didn't find any grammatical or mechanical errors. What I liked most about the book is the writing style. I could not find anything that can be improved in the book. Although there is an OBC review of the book that gave the book 4 out of 4 stars rating, my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on October 19, 2018, at 12:46 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Heidi M Simone
Without this program, I would not have sampled this book. I do like the blend of colors on the cover and the title is clever. However, I'm afraid the blurb, though gives a good idea of what the book will be about, is not of interest to me. Crime/thrillers is a genre that I sometimes enjoy, but it depends on the premise. Looking at the positive reviews, including the OBC one, does not affect my opinion of the book. While reading, I did not notice any glaring errors. Opening with the murder of a Boy Scout was clever and can grab a reader's attention fairly quickly. Also, I found the scene when Jason found out that his father, Pedar, is being accused of the murder from his school's principal dramatic, and it held my attention. Though I liked Jason's perspective, I found Detective Stroud's perspective not as engaging even if he was involved in the scene of where the Boy Scout's body was found. In general, though, I am not a big fan of murder mysteries. As this is one, I do not plan on reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on October 19, 2018, at 12:27 am by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sicily Joy
I would have sampled this book based on the genre, cover, and description because I like mystery books and books that discuss tough issues. Also, the official review makes me think I would enjoy reading this book because I am interested in reading about mental institutions and mental health issues. After sampling the book, I decided I will buy it and read it eventually. I liked the book started off with action and mystery as a boy scout is found dead by the lake. I also liked that the detective has a strong personality. It is evident that this story will be character driven as Kosmo throws into a good amount of backstory into the first chapter. Right away, the reader is told Stroud was hoping to retire but can't now because of this case and then we are given other details such how Stroud wants to live up to his Dad's memory.
The only element I think needs improving is there could be page breaks between scene changes to lessen confusion when these transitions happen. I found no errors and I believe this book was professionally edited.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 9:56 pm by Sicily Joy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kareka88
I don't know if I would have picked up this book just by the cover and title alone. However, I have read a review on OnlineBookClub and several on Amazon that all say this is an excellent book. Because of this, I would like to read it. A sexual assault in Eau Claire Wisconsin in 1949 would have been scandalous. The fact that the boy was a boy scout makes it even worse. You feel for Jason when he finds out his friend has died. I like the writing style. It is comfortable for me to read. I think the fact that Jason's father is in a mental asylum adds to the dark feeling of the book. I did not find any errors in the portion I read.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 9:36 pm by Kareka88.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Nelsy Mtsweni
The title of the book is begging a question. Who are those monsters in the hallway? I would have chosen to read the book to find out! Having read the book and the sample, I found this book to be a psychological thriller. As a psychology student, I am interested in reading about how the mind can influence one's thought, actions, and behavior. Therefore, I am planning on reading the book entirely. The book is about some evil people in a small community, Eau Claire, who commit criminal acts such as murder, rape, and so on. Peder Korsen, who suffers from a mental illness, is a prime suspect to the murder of his son's friend, Roy Pettit. The suspense of the book was killing me, and I am looking forward to finding out how Capt. Jim Kosmo investigates this matter. I did not recognize any editorial errors with the book. Thanks
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 6:19 pm by Nelsy Mtsweni.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
JuliaKay
I like the cover and title of this book as a fan of the gothic horror genre, although I'm not exactly sure if this is the genre that this story belongs in. Either way, it captured my attention. The blurb and reviews were interesting, and they made me curious about the book. I probably would have chosen to sample it even without this program. The book starts with a bang as it mentions the death of a boy scout. It is 1959 and Detective Joe Stroud is about to retire when he finds out about a rare murder in Eau Claire. When the detective arrives at Dells Pond, the scene of the death, he is directed to the dead body of a boy scout lying under a table. The boy is Roy Pettit. Detective Gordon lets Detective Stroud know that an escaped man from an asylum is believed to be the murderer. Stroud believes the murdered would have been somebody the boy knew and trusted. The next chapter discusses Jason Korsen, a high school student who is called into the principal's office. Jason's father had been in an asylum for years. Jason is told that his friend is dead and that his father is possibly the murderer. Jason, however, has an idea of who the true murderer could be. The first ten pages of this book get straight to the point and really draw the readers in. I would be interested in reading the whole story based on the first ten pages. I did not notice any technical errors, and it does appear that this book has been professionally edited. I did think that there were some descriptions of past events that could seem a little tedious, but they weren't that bad.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 5:06 pm by JuliaKay.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
MsTri
Even though I'm not too keen on the cover for this book, the title did catch my eye. Upon reading the Amazon synopsis and OBC review (the only one I read), I knew that this book is my type of read. The plot already sounds fascinating, but "visiting" the insane asylums of this time period and reading about the "treatments" given has got me even more interested. The sample read was phenomenal, and the book seems to be professionally edited. My favorite part was the description of Bartholomew "Batshit Bart" Tyrone Pettit III, and I have no suggestions for changes because the book seems perfect already.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 3:02 pm by MsTri.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
a9436
Mental health has always been of particular interest to me, and so whilst the title did not attract me, the blurb and reviews certainly did. Chapter One did not directly concern this topic, which left me rather impatient despite the interesting and intriguingly described crime scene, and I did not start to relate to the characters until the opening pages of Chapter Two. I finished the first ten pages outraged at the suggestion that left-handed students are demonic, and desperately hoping that Jason was not made to suffer for his father's actions. I will read on with the hope that the events of the first chapter are linked into the boy's story. There were some parts of the dialogue which were not grammatically correct, such as, "What we got here?" but I suspect that is how those with the local dialogue speak, and otherwise I found it to be well-written and well-edited.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 2:26 pm by a9436.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Samantha Simoneau
Prior to sampling the book, I was immediately "creeped out" by the title and cover image, which is what you want with a book such as this one, I guess. I don't read much in the way of "scary." The blurb made me realize that it's more suspenseful murder mystery, and I think the premise is really interesting and probably allows for captivating exploration of the human condition. However, the molestation-and-child-murder angle really troubles me (I'm a very sensitive reader). From the blurb and the reviews, I believe this book is probably engaging and well written but would give me nightmares. As a result, I already think I won't be downloading this today. I will give the sample a once-over, though. There should be a comma between "magazines" and "imagining." There should not be a comma between "hand" and "when." There should be a comma between "because" and "as." "Under foot" should be one word." There should be a comma between "underfoot" and "and." There should be a comma after "generally." "Now" appears in two consecutive sentences, which felt redundant, as well as "scene" occurring twice in one sentence. While I wouldn't say this book feels unedited, it does seem that it could use another pass-through with an editor. There should be a comma between "tall" and "brown." Okay, positives: This is very descriptive. I can easily imagine the characters and scenes. For me, though, that's not such a good thing when the scene being described is a very sad crime scene. My stomach is churning and my dander is up over this fictional molestation and murder. I applaud the author's ability to suck me in and make me feel strongly about events, but I don't want to read this book - it'll just disturb me. I don't think I'm the right demographic for this one. I won't be downloading it or finishing it.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 10:29 am by Samantha Simoneau.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
bookowlie
I would not have sampled this book on my own due to the disturbing subject matter. The OBC review is glowing with positive comments about an absorbing plot and well-developed characters. Still, I don't like reading about sensitive topics such as abuse, molestation, bullying, the murder of a child, etc. The Amazon summary is free of errors and gives a clear explanation of the plot. The sample pages are also well written with no errors. The two detectives, Stroud and Richardson, are introduced well with clear backstories and the 1950's Wisconsin setting is described well. The writing has a smooth flow and I liked that the description of finding the young boy's body isn't overly graphic. Although the sample was interesting, I am not planning to read the entire book. As previously stated, the themes are too disturbing for my reading tastes.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 10:22 am by bookowlie.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Dolor
Without The First Ten program, I would've chosen to read this book because the thought-provoking title and the spooky cover had captured my interest. The book started with the news of a Boy Scout's murder at McDonough Park, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on May 5, 1959, which could probably derail the retirement of Detective Lieutenant Joe Stroud. I have not seen any error in this professionally-edited book. With or without the official OBC review, I would still go with my original hunch - to read the entire story. Capt. Jim Kosmo's Monsters in the Hallway is a #MurderMystery book that revolves around the evils or "monsters" that we face: bad people, bullying, abuse, and sexual assault.
#Crime #Suspense #MentalInstitutions #FreeBook
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 7:46 am by Dolor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
OloladeO
Based on the cover and title, I would have read the book's sample because I am curious to find out what/who the monsters are. From the sample, it was the year 1959 in EAU Claire, Wisconsin. Detective Lieutenant Joe Stroud was looking forward to retiring from the force the following month after serving for 30 years. His wife, Bette, interrupted his daydream by bringing him news about a body spotted at McDonoughn Park. He was shocked as there hasn't been a murder in Eau Claire for thirty years. Stroud wasn't pleased with the news because it could derail his retirement. The book seems professionally edited. The OBC reviewer gave it a perfect rating so I am sure it will be a good read for lovers of the crime genre. As for me, I'll pass because I am looking for a book that falls under the romance genre.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 5:34 am by OloladeO.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sharill Rasowo
If I had not read the sample, I probably would have read the book. The official OnlineBookClub review indicated that it was a murder mystery and that it included mental illness. This made me very interested in reading the book. The sample started out with the discovery of the dead body of a boy scout. The author painted a very vivid picture, describing the surroundings as well as the effects of WWII on one of the characters. I really liked the sample, so I would buy and read the book. I did not spot any typos, so I think it was professionally edited.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 3:40 am by Sharill Rasowo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Laura Ungureanu
"Monsters in the Hallway" is a crime thriller. I like the fact that "monsters" is a metaphor for evil and bad things. In 1959, Jason remembers an incident that happened nine years in the past. He discovers his father is accused of murdering Jason's friend. The book starts with Joe Stroud, a detective in Eau Claire, who is announced about the murder of a Boy Scout in their peaceful community. The peace is soon gone. I don't like the genre, so I wouldn't have tried this book out without the program and I won't continue to read it. It seems professionally edited.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 3:15 am by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ObsessedBookNerd
Had I not read the first ten pages of the book then I would not have read the book based on the genre, blurb, and reviews because I don't like crime/murder mystery novels. The title and cover did initially make me fascinated with the book. The cover is beautifully designed and the title made me think that it would be of the fantasy genre. I am not going to buy or read the whole book because this is not the type of book I enjoy reading. The first ten pages did not change my mind because I did not like reading the topics that the author brought up in the story. I do not like reading depressing things such as murder, bullying, abuse, sexual assault, etc. The story starts off with a murder right from the beginning of the story. It is also only a kid that is murdered, he was a boy scout. The crime scene shows that the murderer might be a sexual deviant. The police think that the one who killed the boy might have escaped from the insane asylum. The book seems professionally edited and I found no spelling or grammatical errors. The flow of the story is the only thing that I liked about the book because it made reading/following along to the story very easy. Otherwise, the mature content that the author wrote about turns me away from reading this book because I don't like reading about such subject matters. Based on what I read I know that this book is not a story that I would enjoy reading.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 2:52 am by ObsessedBookNerd.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ladycraic
I would not have chosen to sample Monsters in the Hallway apart from First Ten, due to my lack of interest in the cover and the title. The title gave me the impression that this book could contain the element of horror, and that did not appeal to me. In fact, I tend to purposely avoid reading horrifying novels. Most murder mysteries I stumble across fall under said category, and it was the same for this one. However, I also had a deep curiosity to find out who the killer was. For the most part, I enjoyed the first few pages, despite the fact that I was a little spooked. They were quite dark in nature, seeing as the story opens up with a dead Roy. However, it fueled my desire to see Roy’s case solved! I was also surprised of Jason’s adamant belief that his father was innocent - I truly want to see if they will have a restored relationship by the end of this story. I’m excited to anticipate who the killer is, and eventually figure it out! This book seemed professionally edited and I didn’t notice grammatical errors!
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 2:11 am by ladycraic.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Cristina Chifane
Since I'm a big fan of mystery novels, this book seems like a good choice for me. With a good cover and title and an intriguing Amazon blurb, I would have chosen it even if it hadn't been for the first ten program. Besides, it also has good editorial and customer reviews. I loved reading the first two chapters. The narrative flows smoothly and the descriptions and background information on the characters are well written. I can't wait to see who really killed Boy Scout Roy Pettit and how Detective Joe stroud and Jason Korsen will prove Peder's innocence in spite of all the political pressure behind the case. There were no editing errors in the pages I have read. What is more, the OBC reviewer mentions that the book also offers a vivid picture of life in mental institutions back in the 1950s. I will add this book to my reading list because it looks like a good murder mystery novel.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 1:49 am by Cristina Chifane.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mercelle
Judging by the cover, I wasn't going to read this book, but the OBC review convinced me otherwise when it mentioned that this is a story about an asylum patient who becomes the main suspect in a murder investigation. When I read the first ten pages, I liked that Stroud and Gordon were quick to get to the crime scene and they wasted no time, immediately brainstorming about how to identify the boy's killer. As I noticed no typos, I'll conclude that the text underwent professional editing, but I won't read the rest of the book because my to-read list is already too long. As it is, there's nothing I would change about the bit I read.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 1:47 am by Mercelle.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
revna01
Detective Joe Shroud is getting ready to retire when a boy scout is sexually assaulted and killed in the small town of Eau Claire. Being the first murder in 30 years there, the Detective and his Partner, Gordon have their hands full. I loved that the author immediately got to the intense plot, quickly reeling me in. I can't think of anything to improve based on the first ten pages. The Online Book Club reviewer mentioned the great attention to character building and highlighting stigmas attached to mental illness, which were interesting tidbits, making me quite keen on reading this book. I think the title and cover are quite catchy, and I found no editing errors during my read. This book has a quick pace and an interesting premise, so I look forward to reading the rest of it.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 12:25 am by revna01.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
LV2R
The title and cover of the book did not make me very interested in reading the book, however, the Amazon Blurb gave a summary of what the book was about, and I was more interested. I read the first ten pages and I liked the author’s style of writing and describing Detective Joe Stroud and the crime scene of Roy, a Boy Scout. I best liked it when Joe Stroud looked at his father’s portrait and could hear his father encouraging him by saying, “You can do this son… Just talk to people. It was somebody he knew and trusted.” I felt like Joe would try to get the real murderer of the boy convicted and do his best even though he was so close to retirement. The book was well edited, as I did not notice any errors. The OBC review actually helped me to decide that I wanted to read this book because it stated that even though towards the end of the book, the readers knew who the true murderer was, the characters still had to collect enough evidence to convict the murderer. I like murder mysteries when the reader has to struggle alongside the protagonist to conquer and solve something.
First Ten review added on October 18, 2018, at 12:00 am by LV2R.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
kfwilson6
Monsters in the Hallway is just my kind of book! I absolutely love murder mysteries, and the OBC 4-star review just solidified my interest in this book.
The book gets off to an excellent start introducing the murder victim and the escaped mental patient, Peder. As any good murder mystery author will do, Kosmo catches the reader's interest right away and holds on by making the reader want to know who the criminal is. What interests me more than that is why Jason was immediately convinced his father is not the perpetrator of Roy's murder. Kosmo definitely caught my interest with the first few pages. I look forward to reading the rest of this novel, especially since it appears to be professionally edited. I did not notice any errors in the sample.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 10:37 pm by kfwilson6.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
CinWin
The cover of "Monsters in the Hallway" by Capt. Jim Kosmo did catch my attention. It looked like a mystery thriller, which is my favorite genre. In the first 10 pages our story begins with the murder of a boy scout and Lieutenent Joe Stroud is in charge of finding the killer. I enjoyed how the author described the crime scene, Dells Pond. He not only explained the beauty but also the history of the pond. If the remainder of the novel is written in the same fashion, this will be a great read. I did not see any typos and there was an onlinebookclub review. I do not have any ideas of how to improve on the book. It definitely grabbed my attention and I will be finishing it.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 10:19 pm by CinWin.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Chelsy Scherba
The imagery and the way the author brings the period to life is very well done. I could absolutely picture the checkered shirt and the old cars the detective used. One thing I dislike is the excessive use by some characters of foul language. I’m too young to remember the fifties, but language like that seems more contemporary. I could be wrong. I think the title is excellent and the reviewer really enjoyed the story and its emphasis on mental health issues. The descriptions are very good and immersive. I don’t typically gravitate to this genre though as I find murder depressing, but I do like that a character in a mental ward is being accused of killing Roy and might be innocent. This is a unique story and it has solid reviews and even awards. I may consider adding this exceptionally well edited book to my list.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 10:07 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Catherine Hsu
If I had not read the sample, I would have read the book. I really love the cover art, and I think the title is interesting. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind, I think the story started very interesting with the line "It all started with a dead boy scout" which caught my eye right away. The writing style was overall very interesting, and I also love the little image art during the "Part" titles. It was professionally edited. I did not read the official review but that did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 10:00 pm by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
lavellan
I probably would have read the sample of Monsters in the Hallway even if it had not been a part of The First Ten program. The Book of the Day review was positive and left me interested in the book. The book seemed like it was professionally edited and I did not notice any errors while reading. I found myself drawn in by the scene where they discovered Roy's body under a picnic table. I would have liked to have learned more about Roy, Jason's father, and the history of the town before it was revealed that Roy was murdered. I will be reading the rest of the book because I'm interested in finding out who murdered Roy.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 9:23 pm by lavellan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
FictionLover
I would not have read this book based on the cover or the title. I like mysteries, but neither says mystery to me. The OBC review was positive, but didn't tell me any more about the mystery than I had already read in the sample, so it did not effect my opinion. The first ten were well written but it could not keep my interest, so I will not be reading on. . . . The book seemed professionally edited and I didn't notice any grammatical errors. . . . I really liked the beginning with Detective Stroud narrating the story of how he 'lost' his retirement when a dead Boy Scout is discovered in the park. By the time we meet Jason in the principal's office I was a bit distracted by all the backstory details. I thought that could be improved by not giving so much history at once.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 9:02 pm by FictionLover.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CataclysmicKnight
I love the title and cover of this book, and that would've had me intrigued enough to look closer at this one. Once I'd read the Amazon description I was even more hooked; the mystery combined with the pressure to solve the case and name a specific person as the murderer is excellent.
So far the writing is very smooth, and I like how well the author is setting the scene in the late 1950s in a tiny town that hadn't even seen a murder case in 30 years. There was a bit of a lull for me about halfway through what I read but otherwise everything was enjoyable. I didn't see any errors, and while I probably wouldn't have bought the book, I do want to finish it sometime now that I've got a free copy!
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 8:56 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
CrescentMoon
After reading the blurb, I think I would check this book out because I'm a huge fan of crime and mystery and suspense novels and the premise intrigued me. This is definitely one of my favorite genres and the take on the mentally ill and how they were treated in the past is definitely something new for me. After reading the first ten pages, I didn't see any spelling or grammar errors. I really liked the writing style. There was a little bit of action mixed with a lot of description and imagery. I like how the first scene was set up with the cop getting ready to relax in his home before the news of someone's death in their small town riles him up to go investigate. I like the description of how Jason was worried about being called into the principal's office and how the principal and his father were old enemies. This seems like a really great start and I definitely want to continue reading the rest.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 8:25 pm by CrescentMoon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Seraphia Bunny Sparks
After reading a few pages of, Monster in the Hallway by Capt. Jim Kosmo, I have decided that I will finish reading this book. When I saw the cover of this book, my interest was piqued. My first thought was it sounded like a horror story. I am an avid reader of horror, so I was eager to delve deeper. As I read the blurb, I learned this book is a crime suspense novel. My interest did not lessen. If I had not read a sample of this book, I would have picked it up. As I read a few pages of this book, my interest is piqued. The author engages me with the simple sentence stating that "It all started with a dead Boy Scout." I immediately want to know what happened. Who committed the crime? Why did they do it? The author shifts the story to Detective Lieutenant Joe Stroud who is looking forward to retirement. As he learns about the body discovered I wonder if this will derail his retirement plans. I can tell that this is a small town murder. I say this because the last was over 30 years ago. Based on what I have read this book appears to be professionally edited. This book does have an official OnlineBookClub review. The reviewer speaks positively of this book. The reviewer tells about the mental asylum aspect of this story, and how the author gives the reader backgrounds on the characters. I'm eager to read more. I will be finishing this book.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 8:07 pm by Seraphia Bunny Sparks.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Scerakor
From the cover, blurb, and review of this book, I wouldn’t have read it. Although the book seems to have some very powerful themes, I don't think the genre or the subject matter within this book will interest me at all. After reading the first ten pages I didn’t change my mind and therefore will not be buying and reading the rest of this book. I loved how the author was able to transport the reader back to the time period. From the accent to the realisation that most people would have had war experience (so less would shock them), to the small town feel, Kosmo takes us back easily. As well, I loved the descriptions of the "carefree" kids running across the "rubber ice" which epitomizes both danger and excitement for the children. That being said, the storyline here didn't interest me at all. I'm not a big crime novel fan and one that deals with abused children doesn't interest me at all. I didn’t see anything specific that I would have wanted to change within the sample that I read, but it did seem well written and edited. The official review did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 6:10 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Azeline Arcenal
After reading the first ten pages, I to finish reading the book. The sample was interesting and I want to know who murdered Roy Petite. I also like how the author is very descriptive like when the author explains how differently Ginger dressed when she went to go pick up her son from school. I do like the book cover and title so if I were to sample the book based on just the cover and title, I probably would have chosen to sample it because they both look interesting. While reading the sample, I didn't notice any grammatical errors either. I also read the official OBC review for this book which was helpful in solidifying my decision on reading this book. There isn't anything I would change anything about this book.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 3:54 pm by Azeline Arcenal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sarah_Khan
I like the cover and title of this book. I definitely would have picked it up because the plot sounds enticing. The first ten pages were professionally edited. I have to admit that I found the beginning a bit generic, it starts off with the cops finding a body, like many other books. The cop's personality also seemed generic. The OBC review mentions that this book has a lot of background information about the characters and includes information about mental institutions. For that reason, I am willing to give this book a try.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 3:19 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
cpru68
Since I read the opening pages of this book today, I have been haunted by the storyline to the point of not being able to concentrate on my day job! I want to get back to it as I did read part one where a murder has come upon a small Wisconsin town where this just doesn't happen. The body of a young boy scout has been discovered, and Jason Korsen learns that it is a friend of his. To make matters worse, the police suspect that his dad is the culprit as he had escaped the insane asylum the night before. I like the period that this book is set in because in the 1950s there was not the technology we have today, so I am interested to see how this all comes together. Jason doesn't believe his dad would do this, so who is doing it? Joe Stroud, the detective near retirement, now has to figure out who would do such a horrible thing in his town. I just have to make room for this on my want to read shelf because it is too good to pass by. I am not sure about the graphic nature as it is a crime novel, so I don't know how much I will enjoy it if it gets too morbid. I did not find any spelling, punctuation or grammar mistakes in the section I read, so it would seem that this book has been professionally edited. I will be finishing this one, and I don't read a lot of crime novels, so getting this opportunity to read this through the book club is great!
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 2:28 pm by cpru68.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Julie Green
I would choose to read this book based on the title and cover; I like biographies and the picture makes me think that this is a true life story about a man who has been committed to a mental institution. I also think the title is clever, evoking memories of childhood nightmares.
Having read the opening pages, I will not be reading the book. I was disappointed to discover (unless I am mistaken) that it seems, instead, to be a fictional crime story. On the plus side, the book opens well with the dramatic statement "It all started with a dead boy scout." I also like the character of the detective who is nearing retirement - he feels credible. There are also some nice details e.g. when Jason sees the men in white coats take his father, and his attention drifts to the two model planes hanging in perpetual conflict above his bed - this detail brings the scene to life as you see it through the eyes of a small boy. Unfortunately, while it is probably a decent read, it doesn't feel like it offers anything new as a crime fiction, so I will not be buying the book. I did not spot any grammatical errors.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 1:42 pm by Julie Green.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
HRichards
I might have picked this book up based on the genre and title, but I will not be reading it because I am reading too many other books at the moment. The first ten pages didn't change my mind enough to get me to pick the book up. The sample started out well, and the mystery was intriguing from the start. The sample focuses on the premise that in 1959 a boy is found murdered. As the police begin the investigation, another boy named Jason Korsen, whose life is already troubled, finds out his father has been arrested for the murder. The writing is very good, but I did notice a grammar error where a sentence started "But mostly it was a steady diet of Frankie Laine" that maybe should have been incorporated into the previous sentence. The book is quite polished and the intrigue starts out fairly well, though maybe just a hair slow with all the exposition. I have not read any other reviews of this book.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 1:14 pm by HRichards.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mary WhiteFace
I would not have wanted to sample this book without the First 10 program. I am not interested in reading a murder mystery that includes child molestation, kidnapping, and an escapee from a mental institution who had been locked away because he had voices telling him to kill his family.
Reading the first ten pages did not change my mind. There wasn't any part that I actually liked, but I did think that it was ridiculous that Jason's teacher, Mrs. Baker, thought that he was demonic because he was left-handed (location 123). It was okay for the storyline line. What I thought was ridiculous was that some people actually used to believe that way.
The author's writing style was captivating, and the scenes were easy to visualize. The book seemed to be professionally edited. I have no suggestions for improvements. There was an Official OnlineBookClub review which did not influence my decision. I will not be reading this book. The premise is not one I would enjoy.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 1:05 pm by Mary WhiteFace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ritah
Based on the title and genre, I would have sampled the book because the title piqued my curiosity and also because I often read books in this genre. I read the official review and then sampled Monsters in the Hallway. I liked how intense the first few pages got, with Gordon recalling how his best friend who was standing beside him at the time got shot on his forehead mid-sentence and then witnessing guys being blown apart during the war. The book appeared to be professionally edited. I will be reading the rest of the book because I enjoyed the suspense and intensity, I wanted to find out who had murdered the young boy found stashed beneath the wooden picnic table.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 12:46 pm by ritah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Camille Turner
I was immediately pulled in by the title and cover and really interested after reading the blurb on Amazon. A thriller/mystery set in the 1940s sounds right up my alley, so I would definitely have sampled this even without the program. After reading the first ten pages, I believe the book was professionally edited, but I did catch one mistake where there was a missing em-dash on the third page. What I like so far about this book is the way the author takes no time in pulling readers in. The opening line is "It all started with a dead boy scout," and from there, the case is set up pretty quickly before the first chapter is even over. That was a very skilled move from the author, as readers already know a good deal about the main characters (Gordon, Stroud, the man who escaped the asylum, and Milbrandt). We know that the first two have experience as soldiers, and we know that the town has been a very safe one until now. Having all of this information right off the bat is fantastic, and because of that I want to know what happens, and I will finish reading the book. I wouldn't improve anything, and it's clear to see that my impression that it would be a good book has remained the same after sampling the first ten pages. From the blurb to the initial pages in the book, this author knows how to draw readers in.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 10:10 am by Camille Turner.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
lesler
Looking at the cover, I am intrigued by this book, and want to read further. Reading the sample, I really like Jason, and want to read further to see if he unlocks the mystery of his murdered friend. This book appears to be professionally edited, with no grammatical errors or typos that I noticed. I like Jason and his family the most-I felt connected to him, and felt bad for them. Especially in the 50s, this type of family problem is so looked down upon, and Jason isn't given a shot in this town because of his father. I did not like how focused the author was on the time frame. I get this was middle 20th Century America, and I felt the author wrote too much about it. I still can't wait to read the rest of the book though.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 10:00 am by lesler.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
gali
I would have sampled the book on my own, as I love clever mysteries. The cover and blurb had peeked my interest, and the sample didn't disappoint. I love the concept of the book.
The book revolves around a murder in a small city. When a Boy Scout is found dead, the police suspects a mental patient who escaped the asylum a day before. His son tries to prove his innocence with the help of the detective assigned to the case. The book opened with a murder, immediately pulling me in. I liked that the book started from the present, and then backpedaled into the past. That the book is based on the author's true experiences adds more intrigue to the tale. I didn't see any glaring errors expect one on Loc 82: "Stroud mumbled aloud more to himself than Gordon" (should be "than to Gordon"). As I enjoyed the sample, I will read the balance of the book. The official review further convinced me to read the book.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 8:45 am by gali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
desantismt_17
The “monsters” in this book’s title made me curious. I wondered if it was fantasy or children’s lit. The description informed me it was neither and dulled my interest. I don’t often read crime novels, and this one didn’t appeal to me. Before sampling, I wasn’t going to read. After sampling, I’ll pass, but not because there’s anything wrong with the book. It’s just not my kind of story. This appears professionally edited. I noticed no errors. The opening line is a fantastic hook. The suspense hits right away, pulling our about-to-retire cop into the fray with fear of his retirement being derailed by the first murder in thirty years. Immediately, I saw his connection to how events would play out and felt his need to figure whatever was going on out quickly. The setting feels like a real place, and the dialogue is crisp. I have no improvements to suggest. The OnlineBookClub.org review I saw was glowing. This type of book just isn’t for me.
First Ten review added on October 17, 2018, at 8:41 am by desantismt_17.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 65%
Monsters in the Hallway earned a score of 65%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 65% plan to read the whole book.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.
Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.
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