What do you think?
Rate this book
The Loop
Can you keep a secret?
In the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains, a freezing snowdrift blankets the June Lake Loop. For months, aspiring novelist Gallagher Finch has not written a single word. To pass the time awaiting inspiration, Gal satiates his boredom with Adderall, Evan Williams, and one call girl too many. On the eve of his twenty-sixth birthday, he indulges in all three…
And when he awakens, he discovers a bloody secret tangled in his bedsheets.
Still grieving from a tragic murder in the family thirteen years earlier, Gal wonders if old enemies are drawing near once again. He begins to process his nightmares, anxiety, and fear the only way he knows how – he writes. Quickly realizing his own story could be the best-seller he has been dying to publish, Gal weaves together the truth of who killed Daphne Castro, but in the process, he discovers the story that could launch his career may very well be his own deadly ending.
Family becomes foe, dark secrets resurface, and blood can be found on more than one pair of hands.
In the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains, a freezing snowdrift blankets the June Lake Loop. For months, aspiring novelist Gallagher Finch has not written a single word. To pass the time awaiting inspiration, Gal satiates his boredom with Adderall, Evan Williams, and one call girl too many. On the eve of his twenty-sixth birthday, he indulges in all three…
And when he awakens, he discovers a bloody secret tangled in his bedsheets.
Still grieving from a tragic murder in the family thirteen years earlier, Gal wonders if old enemies are drawing near once again. He begins to process his nightmares, anxiety, and fear the only way he knows how – he writes. Quickly realizing his own story could be the best-seller he has been dying to publish, Gal weaves together the truth of who killed Daphne Castro, but in the process, he discovers the story that could launch his career may very well be his own deadly ending.
Family becomes foe, dark secrets resurface, and blood can be found on more than one pair of hands.
431 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2019
124 people are currently reading
2015 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Holloway
2 books61 followersNicholas Holloway is an award-winning mystery author based in Texas. His debut novel, "The Loop", won the Book Excellence Award for Suspense Fiction. His thrilling new mystery thriller, "Three Houses on a Hill," recently won the 2020 Killer Nashville Claymore Award.
Nick grew up in southern California and earned his master’s degree from the MFA Screenwriting Program at California State University Fullerton.
While living abroad in New Zealand, Portugal, and Morocco, Nick garnered a love of landscapes. He utilizes dramatic backdrops in his stories, believing that a story’s terrain is just as important as its characters.
"Three Houses on a Hill" is NOW AVAILABLE.
Nick lives in Austin with his wife and their dog-child, Harvey.
Nick grew up in southern California and earned his master’s degree from the MFA Screenwriting Program at California State University Fullerton.
While living abroad in New Zealand, Portugal, and Morocco, Nick garnered a love of landscapes. He utilizes dramatic backdrops in his stories, believing that a story’s terrain is just as important as its characters.
"Three Houses on a Hill" is NOW AVAILABLE.
Nick lives in Austin with his wife and their dog-child, Harvey.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
April 23, 2020
Well that took me by surprise. After a slightly inauspicious start, The Loop became quite compelling reading. Following a night of drunken debauchery with a prostitute, Daphne, Gal (Gallagher) Finch wakes up to find Daphne dead in his bed, blood everywhere. His own stag horn handled knife sticking out of her neck. He has no idea what happened as he passed out in the kitchen. Thinking this will be pinned on him, Gal panics, he drags the body out of the house and into the shed for later disposal. His sister, Scarlett, later helps him dump the body at one of the area’s lakes.
Meanwhile, Daphne’s aunt, Sandy, a former police officer and Amazonian statured woman arrives at the loop to try and find her missing niece. Naturally, the body is eventually found and Gal is inevitably arrested for the murder. But meanwhile, meanwhile the intrigue is building as we follow the nefarious activities of a bunch of criminals and other scheming individuals. It was almost comical at times - so many suspects, so many people backstabbing each other. But more people are killed and others are missing.
Despite not really liking any of the characters much, with the exception of Aunt Sandy, it turned into a rather intriguing mystery and I was keen to see how it turned out and who the killer was. A clever twist and an unexpected ending lifted this book into solid 4 star territory. Actually I think it would make a great Coen brother movie! I did enjoy reading it. My thanks to Book Sirens, the publisher and author Nicholas Holloway for my review copy.
Meanwhile, Daphne’s aunt, Sandy, a former police officer and Amazonian statured woman arrives at the loop to try and find her missing niece. Naturally, the body is eventually found and Gal is inevitably arrested for the murder. But meanwhile, meanwhile the intrigue is building as we follow the nefarious activities of a bunch of criminals and other scheming individuals. It was almost comical at times - so many suspects, so many people backstabbing each other. But more people are killed and others are missing.
Despite not really liking any of the characters much, with the exception of Aunt Sandy, it turned into a rather intriguing mystery and I was keen to see how it turned out and who the killer was. A clever twist and an unexpected ending lifted this book into solid 4 star territory. Actually I think it would make a great Coen brother movie! I did enjoy reading it. My thanks to Book Sirens, the publisher and author Nicholas Holloway for my review copy.
September 16, 2020
Holy man was this twisted. I am totally shocked by many pieces of the story... Holloway plays the reader like a goddamn fiddle. A fiddle, I tell you!
I love the way he brought so many meanings to the term the loop.
Life’s a bitch— especially in wintery small towns— and if you’re a dick, and sometimes even when you’re not, it will eat you up and spit you out.
The only thing worse than a nightmare is a nightmare that never ends, and this is totally what that felt like; bleak, gruesome, and unforgiving ... in all the right ways.
I love the way he brought so many meanings to the term the loop.
Life’s a bitch— especially in wintery small towns— and if you’re a dick, and sometimes even when you’re not, it will eat you up and spit you out.
The only thing worse than a nightmare is a nightmare that never ends, and this is totally what that felt like; bleak, gruesome, and unforgiving ... in all the right ways.
October 25, 2019
Nicholas Holloway sets a complicated story, with complicated characters, in a stark but beautiful landscape. Spanning over a year in real time, but with lots of chapters explaining past events, the story rolls forward to end in a rather unexpected way.
The reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is just that; towards the end the story tends to become a little too complicated and the ending is, for me at least, a litte too rushed.
The Loop is a story about a family, with all members harboring their own secrets, sometimes without their knowledge themselves. It is a story about lost, love and revenge. The characters are well draw out and the idea to give each chapter the name of a color or material, that refers to something important in that chapter, is very nice.
What I didn't like is the fact that the story moves backward and forward, without any indication of it doing so. Sometimes it took me a whole page of reading before I realized I was reading something that happened in the past, so I had to get back and read that part again.
I am happy BookSirens pointed this book out to me and sent me a digital review copy. I hope to read more of Nicholas Holloway in the future.
The reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is just that; towards the end the story tends to become a little too complicated and the ending is, for me at least, a litte too rushed.
The Loop is a story about a family, with all members harboring their own secrets, sometimes without their knowledge themselves. It is a story about lost, love and revenge. The characters are well draw out and the idea to give each chapter the name of a color or material, that refers to something important in that chapter, is very nice.
What I didn't like is the fact that the story moves backward and forward, without any indication of it doing so. Sometimes it took me a whole page of reading before I realized I was reading something that happened in the past, so I had to get back and read that part again.
I am happy BookSirens pointed this book out to me and sent me a digital review copy. I hope to read more of Nicholas Holloway in the future.
August 17, 2020
Wow! I wasn’t expecting that. I ordered this book bc the Author’s wife is a very good friend of my niece. She told me I should read it, it is his first published work so I got on his website and ordered it. I’m so glad I did. It was a pleasant surprise. The Loop is an excellent read. It has everything a good book needs. There was suspense, mystery, secrets, love, and murder. The characters are complex and each one is an important part of the story. They are the kind of characters you want to google and know more about. The kind you are still thinking about the next day. Then there is the ending. It was unexpected and so good. Everything comes together and you are thinking WHAT?!!! I didn’t see that coming! The Loop delivers. It is a great read from Nicolas Holloway. I highly recommend to all of my fellow book nerds! I will be watching for more from him.
January 30, 2020
This book deserves five stars for the ending alone. I normally start reviews discussing the beginning of the book and summarize the story's journey. However, there is nothing normal about The Loop. I have never read a story quite like this one. The author very bravely does not make it easy for the reader to figure out exactly what is going on, what is going to happen and definitely not where we will end up when the last page is read.
From the first chapter The Loop earns its name. The title refers to the area where our protagonists live but it's also a perfect definition of the roller coaster ride the writer takes us on and never lets us off. There are more WTF moments in each chapter of this book than in the past year of thrillers I have read.
The story begins with alcoholic pot smoking would be writer Gallagher Finch waking up on his living floor with no memory of how he got there and walking to his bedroom where to his disbelief he finds the hooker he hired last night in his bed with blood all over her and his prized pocket knife still in her body. He knows he didn't do it. At least he is pretty sure he didn't do it.
As the chapters, which are named for colors and not numbers, fly by there is more confusion than resolution as to who committed this heinous murder. We meet a cast of characters who I can only describe as fitting perfectly into any Quentin Tarantino movie.
There is so much I want to say but it would be so unfair to not let you discover the secrets that are hidden in this book. So I would like to talk about the author Nick Holloway. I believe this is his first novel and I find this shocking news. His descriptive prose made my teeth chatter when one character is walking in the frozen Sierra Nevada hills. I felt the cold rain on my face as a pair of would be lovers kiss for the first time in the rain.
Suspense means we are frozen with anticipation as to what is going to happen next in the story. The suspense in this story is in ever chapter, every sentence, and ever word. The author does not waste our time with frivolous scenes or people. Every character has a reason for existing and every action has a consequence.
I'm so glad Mr. Holloway is a writer. It would be a huge loss to the literary world if he had chosen any other profession. If you love thrillers, suspense, mysteries, and masterful story telling you must read The Loop. I dare you to even pretend you knew how it would all end.
I received a free copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
From the first chapter The Loop earns its name. The title refers to the area where our protagonists live but it's also a perfect definition of the roller coaster ride the writer takes us on and never lets us off. There are more WTF moments in each chapter of this book than in the past year of thrillers I have read.
The story begins with alcoholic pot smoking would be writer Gallagher Finch waking up on his living floor with no memory of how he got there and walking to his bedroom where to his disbelief he finds the hooker he hired last night in his bed with blood all over her and his prized pocket knife still in her body. He knows he didn't do it. At least he is pretty sure he didn't do it.
As the chapters, which are named for colors and not numbers, fly by there is more confusion than resolution as to who committed this heinous murder. We meet a cast of characters who I can only describe as fitting perfectly into any Quentin Tarantino movie.
There is so much I want to say but it would be so unfair to not let you discover the secrets that are hidden in this book. So I would like to talk about the author Nick Holloway. I believe this is his first novel and I find this shocking news. His descriptive prose made my teeth chatter when one character is walking in the frozen Sierra Nevada hills. I felt the cold rain on my face as a pair of would be lovers kiss for the first time in the rain.
Suspense means we are frozen with anticipation as to what is going to happen next in the story. The suspense in this story is in ever chapter, every sentence, and ever word. The author does not waste our time with frivolous scenes or people. Every character has a reason for existing and every action has a consequence.
I'm so glad Mr. Holloway is a writer. It would be a huge loss to the literary world if he had chosen any other profession. If you love thrillers, suspense, mysteries, and masterful story telling you must read The Loop. I dare you to even pretend you knew how it would all end.
I received a free copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 24, 2019
OMG, what an emotional, nail biting roller coaster, this is the first book that I have read by Nicholas Holloway but hopefully it wont be the last, I was hooked from page one.
Gallagher Finch is a would be writer, that is when he is not drinking, getting high on drugs or entertaining call girls. Apart from the close bond with his sister his family is very dysfunctional.
On the eve of his twenty sixth birthday, Gal wakes up with a call girl in his bed, she is dead, lying in a pool of blood and the obvious murder weapon is Gal's penknife.
The story that unfolds from this point has more twists and turns than a corkscrew, it encompasses numerous murders, subterfuge, kidnapping, sibling jealousy, call girls and a brilliant descriptive narrative.
This is an absolutely riveting story that lures you in from the first page, the dramatic ending certainly took me by complete surprise, I did not see that coming. I would definitely recommend this book.
I was given a free copy in exchange for a truthful unbiased review and this I have given.
Gallagher Finch is a would be writer, that is when he is not drinking, getting high on drugs or entertaining call girls. Apart from the close bond with his sister his family is very dysfunctional.
On the eve of his twenty sixth birthday, Gal wakes up with a call girl in his bed, she is dead, lying in a pool of blood and the obvious murder weapon is Gal's penknife.
The story that unfolds from this point has more twists and turns than a corkscrew, it encompasses numerous murders, subterfuge, kidnapping, sibling jealousy, call girls and a brilliant descriptive narrative.
This is an absolutely riveting story that lures you in from the first page, the dramatic ending certainly took me by complete surprise, I did not see that coming. I would definitely recommend this book.
I was given a free copy in exchange for a truthful unbiased review and this I have given.
October 4, 2021
I’m so sorry, I really wanted to like this book. Its premise is so interesting: An aspiring novelist is combating writer’s block with alcohol and call girls.. until one day he finds one murdered on his bed. Memories of a tragedy from the past resurface, as do old enemies, and he starts writing.. but will he finish the story or will the story finish him?
On to the unpleasant part: I couldn’t help but find the protagonist to be a jerk; maybe he was meant to be that way, but it made it hard to care what happened to him. Or to anyone else, for that matter. The writing seemed rather amateurish at times; perhaps the book could have used a bit more editing. It was quite peeving to see the word hues being used as a synonym for eyes. On the whole, I think it was a good story that could have been executed better. I wish the author luck with his future work.
Thank you to BookSirens for giving me a free copy in exchange for a review.
On to the unpleasant part: I couldn’t help but find the protagonist to be a jerk; maybe he was meant to be that way, but it made it hard to care what happened to him. Or to anyone else, for that matter. The writing seemed rather amateurish at times; perhaps the book could have used a bit more editing. It was quite peeving to see the word hues being used as a synonym for eyes. On the whole, I think it was a good story that could have been executed better. I wish the author luck with his future work.
Thank you to BookSirens for giving me a free copy in exchange for a review.
April 9, 2020
The Loop by Nicholas Holloway scares me... What exactly scares me? That, like Gal, the story is based on true events! Holloway has done am incredible job of setting up a thriller that keeps me questioning not only what's going to happen next, but also whether or not my guesses are correct! I haven't been right, yet! That does not happen for me often in reading, so way to go, Nicholas!
Two complaints:
1. The language and sexual content
2. The introduction of new characters late in the story. They may have been mentioned earlier and I've just forgotten, but there are already a lot of characters to keep up with. Adding more only adds confusion rather than keeping me wondering the "who-done-it."
In spite of my complaints, I am engrossed in The Loop. It has definitely been worth my time to read!
Two complaints:
1. The language and sexual content
2. The introduction of new characters late in the story. They may have been mentioned earlier and I've just forgotten, but there are already a lot of characters to keep up with. Adding more only adds confusion rather than keeping me wondering the "who-done-it."
In spite of my complaints, I am engrossed in The Loop. It has definitely been worth my time to read!
January 17, 2021
This book was TWISTED. If you’re looking for something to catch you by surprise at every turn, this is it. Every character is somehow connected, doing something shady and everyone is a suspect. You’ll fall in love with Gal’s story and his character as you read through the winding events of this book.
October 26, 2019
Nicholas Holloway's The Loop is a clever roller coaster of a book. I found this story to have strong characterization, an ideal setting, lots of unexpected twists, and a sense of word play I haven't seen much of lately. I wasn't sure I liked this book when I finished it, but upon reflection, I know that I did, and I liked it a lot.
We meet the Finch family in the midst of their newest crisis (and this family has had several). The siblings have survived a troubled history and now each have a collection of secrets themselves. Holloway has done a fantastic job breathing lives into each of this characters, no matter how broken.
The setting of this book is beautiful; almost a character in its own right. Such beauty hiding so much pain and danger. Northern California is a beautiful place, and the author clearly knows the region and loves it. The lakes make a nice contrast to the terrible things that are occurring throughout the area.
There were many twists and turns in this story. I rarely settled into a suspect before there was another plot twist. The layers uncovered on each page remind us all that there are shades of gray and good and bad in everyone. Anyone could be the guilty party. And the motive was always shifting.
There was a playful note throughout this book. Each chapter was given a colorful title. I thought the playful-ness may be too gimmicky, but I found myself appreciating it and at some times, even loving it. The over-arching color theme connected the threads within each chapter.
The penultimate chapter of this book almost lost me, but after having sat with the conclusion of this story for a couple of days, I have found I appreciate it even more. It was a logical twist, necessary for the ultimate conclusion.
This book appears to be a debut, but I have seen rumors of both a sequel to this one and a new stand alone by this author. I look forward to reading both.
I received a free review copy of this book from Book Sirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
We meet the Finch family in the midst of their newest crisis (and this family has had several). The siblings have survived a troubled history and now each have a collection of secrets themselves. Holloway has done a fantastic job breathing lives into each of this characters, no matter how broken.
The setting of this book is beautiful; almost a character in its own right. Such beauty hiding so much pain and danger. Northern California is a beautiful place, and the author clearly knows the region and loves it. The lakes make a nice contrast to the terrible things that are occurring throughout the area.
There were many twists and turns in this story. I rarely settled into a suspect before there was another plot twist. The layers uncovered on each page remind us all that there are shades of gray and good and bad in everyone. Anyone could be the guilty party. And the motive was always shifting.
There was a playful note throughout this book. Each chapter was given a colorful title. I thought the playful-ness may be too gimmicky, but I found myself appreciating it and at some times, even loving it. The over-arching color theme connected the threads within each chapter.
The penultimate chapter of this book almost lost me, but after having sat with the conclusion of this story for a couple of days, I have found I appreciate it even more. It was a logical twist, necessary for the ultimate conclusion.
This book appears to be a debut, but I have seen rumors of both a sequel to this one and a new stand alone by this author. I look forward to reading both.
I received a free review copy of this book from Book Sirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 9, 2019
The Loop is KILLER! From the first sentence, I couldn’t tear myself away from this winding, thrilling story. Nicholas Holloway’s prose is engaging, poetic and pungent. Each chapter hits readers with new and unexpected twists and turns that culminate in a knock-your-socks-off type ending. Major respect to the author for fully developing so many characters and such a tidy ending. The scenery descriptions create a moody, larger than life set for the drama to unfold. I can’t wait to see what Nicholas Holloway has up his sleeve for his next thriller. My only question is... Who is buying the movie rights here??
November 13, 2019
Wildly imaginative! Wonderful characters. Interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. Simply a GREAT read!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
November 2, 2019
Thank you to Book Siren for providing a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Wow! After suffering through so many so-so reads lately, I am glad I finally found a great one! I seldom hand out 5 stars, but The Loop was a fast paced Thriller that had me hooked from page 1 to the very end. I am normally pretty good at figuring the endings out, but I did not see this one coming. Excellent work! Looking forward to reading more books from Nicholas Holloway in the future.
Wow! After suffering through so many so-so reads lately, I am glad I finally found a great one! I seldom hand out 5 stars, but The Loop was a fast paced Thriller that had me hooked from page 1 to the very end. I am normally pretty good at figuring the endings out, but I did not see this one coming. Excellent work! Looking forward to reading more books from Nicholas Holloway in the future.
August 8, 2020
Overall, a good story with a lot of twists and turns throughout. i think at times there was some unnecessary lulls in the action and i felt like there was TOO much going to at times as well. A lot of characters with a lot of impact on the story. caused my some confusion trying to follow everything. in the end though, it was entertaining and exciting trying to find out "who done it". I would recommend to anyone who is a mystery/thriller book reader. I think it has good enough of a story to bypass some of the flaws.
Thank you to Nicholas Holloway, JPM Publishing Co., and BookSirens for providing me with an advanced reading copy.
Thank you to Nicholas Holloway, JPM Publishing Co., and BookSirens for providing me with an advanced reading copy.
October 12, 2019
Awesome book! I could not put it down. I had to continue reading to find out what happens next! Finished within a couple of days! Can't wait for the next book to be written!
I want to add that every chapter has a twist or turn up to and including the last chapter. A real mystery thriller. This book is an excellent read!
I want to add that every chapter has a twist or turn up to and including the last chapter. A real mystery thriller. This book is an excellent read!
October 25, 2019
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review. I loved it. An action packed thriller about the lengths people will go to for love. Holloway has caught us up in the story with believable characters that we can identify with. The non-stop action culminates in a very unexpected ending. I would definitely recommend this book.
January 17, 2020
Thank you so much to Nick Holloway for the pdf download of the loop about the book...... Can you keep a secret?
In the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains, a freezing snowdrift blankets the June Lake Loop. For months, aspiring novelist Gallagher Finch has not written a single word. To pass the time awaiting inspiration, Gal satiates his boredom with Adderall, Evan Williams, and one call girl too many. On the eve of his twenty-sixth birthday, he indulges in all three…
And when he awakens, he discovers a bloody secret tangled in his bed sheets.
Still grieving from a tragic murder in the family thirteen years earlier, Gal wonders if old enemies are drawing near once again. He begins to process his nightmares, anxiety, and fear the only way he knows how – he writes. Quickly realizing his own story could be the best-seller he has been dying to publish, Gal weaves together the truth of who killed Daphne Castro, but in the process, he discovers the story that could launch his career may very well be his own deadly ending.
Family becomes foe, dark secrets resurface, and blood can be found on more than one pair of hands.
I never saw the ending of the book coming it was so shocking all of the answers I had in the beginning were answered so much unexpected things happened in this story twist and turns on every page you never know what is going to happen one of my new favorite's it was out of this world good there was so much in this book lies, hate, jealousy, mystery, love, anger, murder and family my favorite character is
Gail I love that he is an aspiring writer trying to write his first novel also the loop is a cool place to live maybe it was also snowing when I was reading this it took me 5 days to read this book I love a good murder, mystery and thriller with suspense nick your a great writer can't wait to read more of your work I would recommend this book to my friends and family LAURA8759.
In the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains, a freezing snowdrift blankets the June Lake Loop. For months, aspiring novelist Gallagher Finch has not written a single word. To pass the time awaiting inspiration, Gal satiates his boredom with Adderall, Evan Williams, and one call girl too many. On the eve of his twenty-sixth birthday, he indulges in all three…
And when he awakens, he discovers a bloody secret tangled in his bed sheets.
Still grieving from a tragic murder in the family thirteen years earlier, Gal wonders if old enemies are drawing near once again. He begins to process his nightmares, anxiety, and fear the only way he knows how – he writes. Quickly realizing his own story could be the best-seller he has been dying to publish, Gal weaves together the truth of who killed Daphne Castro, but in the process, he discovers the story that could launch his career may very well be his own deadly ending.
Family becomes foe, dark secrets resurface, and blood can be found on more than one pair of hands.
I never saw the ending of the book coming it was so shocking all of the answers I had in the beginning were answered so much unexpected things happened in this story twist and turns on every page you never know what is going to happen one of my new favorite's it was out of this world good there was so much in this book lies, hate, jealousy, mystery, love, anger, murder and family my favorite character is
Gail I love that he is an aspiring writer trying to write his first novel also the loop is a cool place to live maybe it was also snowing when I was reading this it took me 5 days to read this book I love a good murder, mystery and thriller with suspense nick your a great writer can't wait to read more of your work I would recommend this book to my friends and family LAURA8759.
June 16, 2020
I received a free copy of this book from Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
On the morning of his twenty-sixth birthday, Gal awakes to find Daphne Castro, a prostitute from the night before, brutally murdered in his bed.
But if he didn't do it, then who did?
In his explosive debut novel, Nicholas Holloway offers a dark tale reminiscent of the works of Stephen King and Gillian Flynn.
The first half of the novel drips with intrigue and mystery. A slew of interesting characters is introduced, such as Sandy Castro, the hefty, broad-shouldered aunt of Daphne who sets out to find her niece after she goes missing. Sandy manages to out-fox quite a few of the other characters, or at least she thinks so.
Across the street from the "murder house" lives Ruby, a former bad girl turned cranky old lady. Being (very deliberately) conspicuous, she might have seen something. Or did she? There's no time to think about that now. Jonathan Tanner, a former friend of hers, has broken out of prison. Only, a reunion between the two of them wouldn't be exactly friendly.
Then there is the Finch family, of which Gal is a part. His father is in prison, having murdered his mother thirteen years earlier. The aftermath of this horrific act has left an awful ripple effect still felt by him and his siblings.
Set in the middle of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Holloway lets his training in screenwriting shine, using the snowy, spooky town as a backdrop to the chilling events that unroll. The setting is very much a character in its own right.
The second half of the novel droops ever so slightly, but never to the point of being boring. A few occurrences are just a little too convenient and coincidental to be believable. The male characters have a habit of "growling" before each thing they say.
All of these things are forgivable once the novel reaches a conclusion of Agatha Christie proportions. Try and guess who did it, you'll probably be wrong.
The Loop won the Book Excellence Award for Suspense Fiction, and rightfully so. With such a powerful start, one can only wonder what sordid stories Mr Holloway has in store for us in years to come.
My blog: https://wp.me/Pc2xMk-5
On the morning of his twenty-sixth birthday, Gal awakes to find Daphne Castro, a prostitute from the night before, brutally murdered in his bed.
But if he didn't do it, then who did?
In his explosive debut novel, Nicholas Holloway offers a dark tale reminiscent of the works of Stephen King and Gillian Flynn.
The first half of the novel drips with intrigue and mystery. A slew of interesting characters is introduced, such as Sandy Castro, the hefty, broad-shouldered aunt of Daphne who sets out to find her niece after she goes missing. Sandy manages to out-fox quite a few of the other characters, or at least she thinks so.
Across the street from the "murder house" lives Ruby, a former bad girl turned cranky old lady. Being (very deliberately) conspicuous, she might have seen something. Or did she? There's no time to think about that now. Jonathan Tanner, a former friend of hers, has broken out of prison. Only, a reunion between the two of them wouldn't be exactly friendly.
Then there is the Finch family, of which Gal is a part. His father is in prison, having murdered his mother thirteen years earlier. The aftermath of this horrific act has left an awful ripple effect still felt by him and his siblings.
Set in the middle of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Holloway lets his training in screenwriting shine, using the snowy, spooky town as a backdrop to the chilling events that unroll. The setting is very much a character in its own right.
The second half of the novel droops ever so slightly, but never to the point of being boring. A few occurrences are just a little too convenient and coincidental to be believable. The male characters have a habit of "growling" before each thing they say.
All of these things are forgivable once the novel reaches a conclusion of Agatha Christie proportions. Try and guess who did it, you'll probably be wrong.
The Loop won the Book Excellence Award for Suspense Fiction, and rightfully so. With such a powerful start, one can only wonder what sordid stories Mr Holloway has in store for us in years to come.
My blog: https://wp.me/Pc2xMk-5
May 16, 2020
The Loop is a 16 mile road in the Sierra Nevada mountains that circles several lakes. It is a vacation spot where a few people live year round. It is here where madams run so called “Lodges” and offer call girls to locals and visitors. Gallagher Finch , an aspiring writer, engages a call girl named Daphne for his 26th birthday. Later that night, he finds her violently murdered body in his home and realizes that he has been drugged. He also knows that he will be the primary suspect in Daphne’s death when he finds his favorite stag horn head pocketknife is imbedded in her body. So rather than call the police and report the death, he calls his sister, Scarlet, and the two of them dispose of the body over the side of mountain.
No one misses Daphne until weeks later when her only relative, Sandy, a former LA police officer, comes to the mountains to find her. Sandy is soon led to Gallagher with the help of another call girl. Sandy soon realizes that Gallagher was set up to take the rap for the death. The two then team up to find the real killer.
This story is fast paced and quite violent. There are not many like able characters. There are secrets revealed about Gallagher and his family, Daphne and other call girls as well as the locals in that area. It has an ending that is shocking and that will surprise everyone. This is a good first novel and hopefully will be the first of many by this author.
May 25, 2020
I had a huge list of TBR books when I remembered I had this one. I thought this would be a laid back, casual read that I could leave and come back to.
I was very wrong. I was hooked on page 5, which is rare for me.
I stayed up way too late reading this over a 3 day period. If I didn't have a toddler, I would have stayed awake all night and finished it in one go.
I am not one for murder mysteries normally, but this was truly phenomenal. I had a love/hate relationship with a few characters but I found myself emotionally invested in Gallagher's story- the good and the bad. There was just enough development of each character that I was happy with the ending.
This book has a strong, gripping start, a nerve-racking and exciting middle, and a shocking rollercoaster ending. I found myself close to tears and not many books have that power these days.
Side note: I think the flashbacks were done really well, it ensured I was paying attention and following the story.
In conclusion, Mr. Holloway is an extremely gifted writer. I truly loved this book and will be purchasing a copy for my collection, and one for a friend. I look forward to more of his work in the future.
*I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and genuine.*
I was very wrong. I was hooked on page 5, which is rare for me.
I stayed up way too late reading this over a 3 day period. If I didn't have a toddler, I would have stayed awake all night and finished it in one go.
I am not one for murder mysteries normally, but this was truly phenomenal. I had a love/hate relationship with a few characters but I found myself emotionally invested in Gallagher's story- the good and the bad. There was just enough development of each character that I was happy with the ending.
This book has a strong, gripping start, a nerve-racking and exciting middle, and a shocking rollercoaster ending. I found myself close to tears and not many books have that power these days.
Side note: I think the flashbacks were done really well, it ensured I was paying attention and following the story.
In conclusion, Mr. Holloway is an extremely gifted writer. I truly loved this book and will be purchasing a copy for my collection, and one for a friend. I look forward to more of his work in the future.
*I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and genuine.*
September 3, 2020
The Loop
What a great first novel! The Loop is a murder mystery with all of the twists and turns you would expect with the genre. The story has many little fires burning everywhere (figuratively.) At times I was sure the author forgot about one of the loose ends, but he did a great job of tying them all up.
The ending had me thinking for days after putting the book down. There are several characters to keep track of making the storyline deep. I suspected many different endings as the book progressed but was surprised by the real ending, something that doesn’t happen often for me with Mystery books.
Mr. Holloway uses great imagery to describe the scenes in detail. The backdrop is the area near Yosemite National Park. I could tell the author had a great love and knew this area well by his descriptions.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and it kept me reading late a few nights in a row. If this was the author’s first novel, I can’t wait to read the next. I recommend this book to anyone who loves mystery and doesn’t mind graphic violence.
Thank you to Book Sirens for the free book. I was not required to leave a review.
What a great first novel! The Loop is a murder mystery with all of the twists and turns you would expect with the genre. The story has many little fires burning everywhere (figuratively.) At times I was sure the author forgot about one of the loose ends, but he did a great job of tying them all up.
The ending had me thinking for days after putting the book down. There are several characters to keep track of making the storyline deep. I suspected many different endings as the book progressed but was surprised by the real ending, something that doesn’t happen often for me with Mystery books.
Mr. Holloway uses great imagery to describe the scenes in detail. The backdrop is the area near Yosemite National Park. I could tell the author had a great love and knew this area well by his descriptions.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and it kept me reading late a few nights in a row. If this was the author’s first novel, I can’t wait to read the next. I recommend this book to anyone who loves mystery and doesn’t mind graphic violence.
Thank you to Book Sirens for the free book. I was not required to leave a review.
September 2, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An aspiring author wakes up from a hangover to a gruesome murder scene in his bedroom. He is confused and traumatised and almost certain that he didn't commit the crime. In a panic, he is accompanied by his older sister to get rid of the body and fails to call the police. Months later, his entire life begins to fall apart whilst his novel pieces itself together.
The Loop, by Nicholas Holloway, is a gripping, heart-pounding psychological thriller. Holloway keeps you guessing from the beginning to the very end in his unputdownable debut novel. Never have I come across a book that makes you feel both empathy and suspicions for so many characters.
I must say, there was a lot happening in this book and at first, I thought that all the introductions to so many new characters would've proved irrelevant. Well, boy was I wrong.
One thing I admire is the way the author built a connection between characters and the reader and then he would suddenly kill them without mercy. I experienced so many emotions whilst reading this book and I couldn't figure out the true culprit of the crime.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because the story was well thought out, characters properly introduced and the pacing was perfect. There were minimal grammatical and spelling errors and the ending was shocking and pleasing all the same.
I recommend this book to psychological thriller fans and those who enjoy an intense plot twist.
An aspiring author wakes up from a hangover to a gruesome murder scene in his bedroom. He is confused and traumatised and almost certain that he didn't commit the crime. In a panic, he is accompanied by his older sister to get rid of the body and fails to call the police. Months later, his entire life begins to fall apart whilst his novel pieces itself together.
The Loop, by Nicholas Holloway, is a gripping, heart-pounding psychological thriller. Holloway keeps you guessing from the beginning to the very end in his unputdownable debut novel. Never have I come across a book that makes you feel both empathy and suspicions for so many characters.
I must say, there was a lot happening in this book and at first, I thought that all the introductions to so many new characters would've proved irrelevant. Well, boy was I wrong.
One thing I admire is the way the author built a connection between characters and the reader and then he would suddenly kill them without mercy. I experienced so many emotions whilst reading this book and I couldn't figure out the true culprit of the crime.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because the story was well thought out, characters properly introduced and the pacing was perfect. There were minimal grammatical and spelling errors and the ending was shocking and pleasing all the same.
I recommend this book to psychological thriller fans and those who enjoy an intense plot twist.
September 7, 2020
This book had everything suspense, thriller, action etc. The story was very intriguing and flowed all the way through, though the ending felt a bit complicated and I had to go back and reread some parts.
Holloway is an exceptionally good writer, the way he sets the scene and creates a complex story complete with complicated characters. The book is set over a time period of a year in the readers world but it makes sense and moves forward in a fast pace way flitting back to past events giving coverage and information to to the reader.
The story set in a dark but beautiful landscape with dark secrets being kept between the family members leads to loss and revenge, there is of course love entangled within and love always makes stories where there is drama, action and suspense all the more enjoyable. As there is a lot of coverage within the book the flitting between the story from past to present is interested however, this is where I felt myself flailing at times and I felt it slowed me down and sometimes made me feel unstuck, wanting to put the book down and struggling to get back round to it, but this is a small and minor issue.
I was really impressed with the structure of the chapters within the book and also the characters, they were fleshed out and well written, but the whole book was very well written and this impressed me. I love well written and well developed characters within books, it can be a pet peeve when they are lacking.
I was so impressed by this book that I will be keeping my eye out for other books by this author. I will be recommending this to everyone I know!
I received this ARC (advanced review copy) from BookSirens for free in exchange for an honest review.
Holloway is an exceptionally good writer, the way he sets the scene and creates a complex story complete with complicated characters. The book is set over a time period of a year in the readers world but it makes sense and moves forward in a fast pace way flitting back to past events giving coverage and information to to the reader.
The story set in a dark but beautiful landscape with dark secrets being kept between the family members leads to loss and revenge, there is of course love entangled within and love always makes stories where there is drama, action and suspense all the more enjoyable. As there is a lot of coverage within the book the flitting between the story from past to present is interested however, this is where I felt myself flailing at times and I felt it slowed me down and sometimes made me feel unstuck, wanting to put the book down and struggling to get back round to it, but this is a small and minor issue.
I was really impressed with the structure of the chapters within the book and also the characters, they were fleshed out and well written, but the whole book was very well written and this impressed me. I love well written and well developed characters within books, it can be a pet peeve when they are lacking.
I was so impressed by this book that I will be keeping my eye out for other books by this author. I will be recommending this to everyone I know!
I received this ARC (advanced review copy) from BookSirens for free in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2020
Gallagher, a struggling writer, pothead, and functioning alcoholic, wakes up to find a dead call girl in his bed. His mind blank regarding the events of the previous night, yet convinced he had nothing to do with her murder, he panics and decides to hide the evidence.
In the months that follow, he lives with the daily fear that the body is going to be found, and he will be implicated in the crime. Inevitably, in the spring, a large washout leaves the body exposed and it is found.
As clues slowly start to point to him, Gallagher must run away from a crime he didn’t commit, as well as dark secrets that are threatening to unravel everything he thought he knew about his family, from his loving sister, to his distant brother, to his other freeloading brother, to the mother he barely knew but loved dearly, and the father who murdered her.
This murder mystery-thriller takes place in the Sierra mountains in and around Yosemite National Park and the small towns that surround the area. The author’s style of writing so vividly described the setting that I felt as though I had been transported there, and having visited the area myself, the author’s descriptions added a lot to the visuals I already had. The characters were well-written and while the book spanned a year, the time progression was well-thought out and I didn’t get lost. I didn’t see the twist at the end coming, and it was a very interesting and not typical way to end a story. All in all, it was very different from the average murder mystery-thriller these days and I really enjoyed reading it.
Thank-you to BookSirens and the publisher for my advanced reader copy.
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mystery: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½
Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½ , rounded up
In the months that follow, he lives with the daily fear that the body is going to be found, and he will be implicated in the crime. Inevitably, in the spring, a large washout leaves the body exposed and it is found.
As clues slowly start to point to him, Gallagher must run away from a crime he didn’t commit, as well as dark secrets that are threatening to unravel everything he thought he knew about his family, from his loving sister, to his distant brother, to his other freeloading brother, to the mother he barely knew but loved dearly, and the father who murdered her.
This murder mystery-thriller takes place in the Sierra mountains in and around Yosemite National Park and the small towns that surround the area. The author’s style of writing so vividly described the setting that I felt as though I had been transported there, and having visited the area myself, the author’s descriptions added a lot to the visuals I already had. The characters were well-written and while the book spanned a year, the time progression was well-thought out and I didn’t get lost. I didn’t see the twist at the end coming, and it was a very interesting and not typical way to end a story. All in all, it was very different from the average murder mystery-thriller these days and I really enjoyed reading it.
Thank-you to BookSirens and the publisher for my advanced reader copy.
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mystery: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½
Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½ , rounded up
May 7, 2020
The Loop - Nicholas Holloway
Starting this novel I thought oh dear, here we go again, main character that's an alcoholic, drug using, selfish guy... But then, this novel just engulfs you and like its titel says you just get into this loop... Author has a nice narrative, I loved the description of the snowy cottage and the town... The characters are well built and Holloway does not waste time on unnecessary descriptions of characters past actions. Instead he focuses on here and now, making you guess what will happen in every chapter, every passage... I like this kind of pace in a thriller and I can't wait for the next book by Holloway. A full 5 star read.
Thank you to Book sirens and the author for gifting me this free ebook ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Starting this novel I thought oh dear, here we go again, main character that's an alcoholic, drug using, selfish guy... But then, this novel just engulfs you and like its titel says you just get into this loop... Author has a nice narrative, I loved the description of the snowy cottage and the town... The characters are well built and Holloway does not waste time on unnecessary descriptions of characters past actions. Instead he focuses on here and now, making you guess what will happen in every chapter, every passage... I like this kind of pace in a thriller and I can't wait for the next book by Holloway. A full 5 star read.
Thank you to Book sirens and the author for gifting me this free ebook ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 9, 2020
I enjoyed this novel much more than I expected to! The concept seemed simple, but was executed in a very compelling way.
The twist ending was completely unexpected and the last 5 chapters had me at the edge of my seat.
Mr. Holloway really knows how to set up a mystery. All of the pieces are there, but they click together to form something totally unexpected.
My only complaint was that I wish it were longer! The beginning seemed a little rushed and I wish I could’ve had a longer book to gain more character development and background. In no way did that diminish the quality of the book, I just want more!
The twist ending was completely unexpected and the last 5 chapters had me at the edge of my seat.
Mr. Holloway really knows how to set up a mystery. All of the pieces are there, but they click together to form something totally unexpected.
My only complaint was that I wish it were longer! The beginning seemed a little rushed and I wish I could’ve had a longer book to gain more character development and background. In no way did that diminish the quality of the book, I just want more!
January 25, 2021
A thrilling and exciting read. An excellent murder mystery.
The Loop is a story about a family with many secrets, as we dive deeper into the novel, secrets are uncovered and the mystery thickens. It is a story about lost love and revenge.
A clever twist and an unexpected ending make this book a page-turner.
Full of suspense and anticipation, it was impossible to put this book down.
I would like to thank Nicholas Holloway and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Summary: The Loop is an exciting and addictive read. A definite page-turner, highly recommended.
The Loop is a story about a family with many secrets, as we dive deeper into the novel, secrets are uncovered and the mystery thickens. It is a story about lost love and revenge.
A clever twist and an unexpected ending make this book a page-turner.
Full of suspense and anticipation, it was impossible to put this book down.
I would like to thank Nicholas Holloway and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Summary: The Loop is an exciting and addictive read. A definite page-turner, highly recommended.
February 24, 2020
Wow! A mesmerizing tale that had me hooked from the start!
Nicholas has done a great job telling this multi-layered murder mystery. Great story telling that vividly portrays this saga of a dysfunctional family who's history collides with its secrets and its future. There is a lot going on but I never had any trouble keeping up. I'm hoping for a sequel!
I received a free copy of the book from the author through Booksirens.com and I am thrilled to be able to give you my honest review.
Nicholas has done a great job telling this multi-layered murder mystery. Great story telling that vividly portrays this saga of a dysfunctional family who's history collides with its secrets and its future. There is a lot going on but I never had any trouble keeping up. I'm hoping for a sequel!
I received a free copy of the book from the author through Booksirens.com and I am thrilled to be able to give you my honest review.
July 2, 2020
I received a complimentary copy of The Loop from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
The Loop is a gripping murder mystery that will leave readers questioning what is going to happen the whole book. I appreciate how Holloway gives the readers all the character's theories about who is behind all the trouble in the Loop, leaving the reader guessing until the final chapter. I did find the fact that the first victim's only living relative happened to be a police officer a little cliche, but the character's actions ended up not following a typical formula for the most part, so that redeemed the character for me. I find that as an avid reader, it's hard to authors to surprise me or give me a book that isn't predictable and really value books like The Loop that keep me guessing until the end.
The Loop is a gripping murder mystery that will leave readers questioning what is going to happen the whole book. I appreciate how Holloway gives the readers all the character's theories about who is behind all the trouble in the Loop, leaving the reader guessing until the final chapter. I did find the fact that the first victim's only living relative happened to be a police officer a little cliche, but the character's actions ended up not following a typical formula for the most part, so that redeemed the character for me. I find that as an avid reader, it's hard to authors to surprise me or give me a book that isn't predictable and really value books like The Loop that keep me guessing until the end.
December 29, 2020
A thriller from start to finish! When reading a murder mystery, I'm used to the author building up the plot throughout the story, until the final reveal. Mr. Holloway created the plot so that each chapter held a new, unexpected twist! It keeps the reader enthralled from start to finish! In addition, the author has an uncanny ability to portray the Sierra Nevada mountains surrounding a small town, as if the reader had lived there himself. A harrowing story and a very exciting and entertaining read. Thrilling and filled with what every reader could ask for in a great murder mystery!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews