Official Review: A way out of Hell by Austin Smith

Cee-Jay Aurinko · Post by **Cee-Jay Aurinko** » 11 Jun 2015, 11:55

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A way out of Hell" by Austin Smith.]

3 out of 4 stars

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What do you get when you take an unthinkable love triangle and mash it up with some good old horror elements? Well, you get Austin Smith's A Way Out Of Hell, of course. Suzy and Dan's marriage is in serious trouble as all they seem to be doing to each other is make one another feel miserable. Suzy is fed up and she wants to feel loved again. Although her body isn't what it used to be, she still considers herself to be an attractive woman. Fed up with her marriage, and almost just as fed up with her kids, Suzy decides that it's about high time that her needs, especially her sexual ones, be met.

One of Suzy's "children" is Rebecca. She's young, she's beautiful, and she's the constant fantasy of a high school teacher named James Norris. It is quite obvious to Rebecca what James wants with her, but she isn't entirely sure. That is, until James tells her to stay behind one day as the classroom empties, and does something unethical, illegal in a lot of countries, and just about all kinds of wrong. This is how an unthinkable love triangle begins, in which a mother and her daughter soon find themselves at the mercy of an attractive, yet extremely sadistic man.

When I started reading this novel, I was hit with a barrage of erotic scenes; from Suzy watching a porn video with envy, to seventeen-year-old Rebecca doing some pretty serious stuff. Quite frankly, it became a little too much at one point. Imagine my surprise when, as the story developed, the erotic content suddenly took a hike to make way for a compelling thriller that kept my blood boiling with mind-fizzing anticipation until the very end. I was hooked. I felt like getting right in there and stopping the antagonist dead in his tracks. This novel was twisted, brilliant, and a golden kind of crazy.

It has its flaws though. Every page has a typo or two. Some characters are completely one dimensional. I can think of three in particular whom I thought should've played a bigger part. On the other hand, the main characters are fully fleshed out. The writing in itself isn't bad at all. The author shows tremendous zeal when it comes to the written word. The dialog felt absolutely real and believable. Nothing was confusing and I think, overall, that this book is unfathomably thrilling.

I recommend this novel to people who are really, without the tiniest iota of doubt, open minded when it comes to novels of the twisted variety. I don't recommend this to readers who have strong moral and ethical beliefs; the content this novel contains may be highly contradictory. To those who think they can handle a novel like this one: they won't be disappointed. The novel is dark, but it grips you from start to finish. My rating is 3 out of 4.

******
A way out of Hell
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Post by **bookowlie** » 12 Jun 2015, 12:35

I enjoyed reading your review. Overdone erotic scenes aside, the plot looks great! The whole review was well-written and interesting, but "twisted, brilliant, and a golden kind of crazy"....well, that line is just on a whole 'nother plane. Well done.

bluemel4 · Post by **bluemel4** » 12 Jun 2015, 12:56

Sounds like an intense read. I am glad it shifted gears and had more to the book than just erotica. Great review. I am not a fan of graphic sex scenes but you make this book sound so interesting. I still think I will pass but I am tempted.

Cee-Jay Aurinko · Post by **Cee-Jay Aurinko** » 12 Jun 2015, 13:42

Thanks for your replies bookowlie and bluemel4. The "golden crazy" seemed like a good idea at the time, because that's what the book was like: way, way, way out there. There are more than a few twists to the plot, as well as a Casper-the-friendly-ghost character that plays an integral part in this novel.

Post by **bookowlie** » 12 Jun 2015, 15:48

Leon Durham wrote:Thanks for your replies bookowlie and bluemel4. The "golden crazy" seemed like a good idea at the time, because that's what the book was like: way, way, way out there. There are more than a few twists to the plot, as well as a Casper-the-friendly-ghost character that plays an integral part in this novel.

I hope you realized that I was giving you a compliment regarding the "golden crazy" line.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 12 Jun 2015, 16:44

"That is, until James tells her to stay behind one day as the classroom empties, and does something unethical, illegal in a lot of countries, and just about all kinds of wrong."

I find myself oddly wanting to know more. I may have to read this.

-- 12 Jun 2015, 17:44 --

Great review!

Cee-Jay Aurinko · Post by **Cee-Jay Aurinko** » 13 Jun 2015, 00:41

* zeldas lullaby

Thanks. You won't be disappointed. The book is really something.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 13 Jun 2015, 12:17

You're welcome! If I read it, I'll get back to you!!

Post by **bookowlie** » 13 Jun 2015, 20:08

It's weird how the title doesn't conjure up thoughts of omance in the slightest.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 13 Jun 2015, 20:18

HA HA HA HA....

OK, this will sound crazy. One of my favorite "romance" scenes in a movie is in The Omen III when Damien (the devil incarnate) and a woman wake up in bed together, and her back has been shredded by his claws during their night together. Very passionate.

If this book is anything like that, then I should definitely read it.

Cee-Jay Aurinko · Post by **Cee-Jay Aurinko** » 14 Jun 2015, 00:11

* bookowlie

I agree. I should probably clarify that this book is in no way a romance novel. The plot might revolve around a love triangle (considering that it involves a murdering psychopath), but the content is erotic, not romantic.

* zeldas lullaby

My favorite romance scene in an unromantic movie ... Let me think...

Ah, got it! The Amazing Spiderman. Peter Parker pulling a Scorpion get-over-here with Gwen Stacey. Great moment.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 14 Jun 2015, 00:14

Ooh, I haven't seen that one! I saw the "upside-down kissing" scene with Kirsten Dunst, but not that one!

Cee-Jay Aurinko · Post by **Cee-Jay Aurinko** » 14 Jun 2015, 02:51

* zeldas lullaby

He-he! I wish I knew of a site where you could download a clip of it.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 14 Jun 2015, 11:35

Oh likewise, I assure you! HA HA.

Post by **bookowlie** » 14 Jun 2015, 11:41

Leon Durham wrote:* bookowlie

I agree. I should probably clarify that this book is in no way a romance novel. The plot might revolve around a love triangle (considering that it involves a murdering psychopath), but the content is erotic, not romantic.

* zeldas lullaby

My favorite romance scene in an unromantic movie ... Let me think...

Ah, got it! The Amazing Spiderman. Peter Parker pulling a Scorpion get-over-here with Gwen Stacey. Great moment.

Well, I just noticed a major typo in my previous post. So....if it's in no way a Romance novel, maybe it's an Omance novel!

Laughing at myself.