From the Bookshelf of Splatterpunk…

Offspring (Dead River, #2)

Jack Ketchum,

Neal McPheeters (Illustrator)

Start date: October 1, 2024

Finish date: November 30, 2024

Discussion: Buddy Reads

Why we're reading this: This is a buddy read for October/November 2024.
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What Members Thought

Sep 25, 2023 Pisces51 rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2024

OFFSPRING [1990] By Jack Ketchum
My Review 4.5 Stars

I finished reading Ketchum's second installment of his "Dead River" series. "Offspring" [1991] (Dead River, #2), is written a decade after its controversial predecessor "Off Season” (1980).

“Offspring” was published as an original Paperback in 1991. Overlook Connection Press reprinted the book in 2005. The Kindle Edition I downloaded was published by 47 North in the Spring of 2013.

The spiel for the less popular and certainly less praised sequel ...more

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May 27, 2024 Cherise Isabella rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It was good to give pain and good to receive pain because that was what life was,

I liked this book, not loved but liked. Offspring does not hold the same fear, depravity or carnage as the first book. Yet, it still stands as one of the most disturbing things I've ever read-so far.

I liked the characters in this one a bit more than the ones in the first. The inclusion of a sociopath along with this feral family, took the book to another level.

The book carries a weight of fear and something truly ...more

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Jul 21, 2010 Kasia rated it liked it

After reading Off Season, which was gripping, tight and savage I was ready for the sequel! The first book left a very strong impression and made me cringe more than usual when but this one was a bit softer and less terrifying. Was it worth the read? Yes, of course, it read very quickly and I enjoyed the story, well I mainly enjoyed rooting for my main characters and their survival but overall there was nothing too new that spiced things up. One novelty I can point out was the foul character of S After reading Off Season, which was gripping, tight and savage I was ready for the sequel! The first book left a very strong impression and made me cringe more than usual when but this one was a bit softer and less terrifying. Was it worth the read? Yes, of course, it read very quickly and I enjoyed the story, well I mainly enjoyed rooting for my main characters and their survival but overall there was nothing too new that spiced things up. One novelty I can point out was the foul character of Steven, a nasty husband with no respect for his family that enraged me by the time I was almost done. I must admit I couldn't wait to see what was in store for him from the same brutes who were imprisoning his friends and family.

When Amy and David invite their troubled friend Claire and her eight year old son Luke to their country house to meet their infant daughter Melissa they have no idea that terrors from the past are going to change their plans. Little filthy beasts with sharpened teeth and weapons inflict permanent damage to the family in ways that are better no thought about for too long, some things are just too much to bear. Their struggle to survive is the main focus of the story, with the help of the police the tale flowed well but these kids seemed too strong, I cant imagine having a problem defending myself against kids...

As the title suggest, the offspring takes off in the task of terrifying us in this tale, eleven years after the original massacre the children are ready to strike back and continue to mate with each other and steal infants from houses nearby to make their clan bigger and meaner. The story starts off with a bang and shows the reader that even thought it's the kids and teens doing the killings, they are no less savage and there is no softness and mercy. Good read and fast one too, I would love to read more of this strange clan of barbarians but unless they change the settings then it will just be a major rehash. Perhaps they should strike the city next, if dinosaurs from Jurassic Park 3 can than so can little dirty brats with big hungry tummies.
...more

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Feb 25, 2021 Nikki rated it it was amazing

This was a bit tamer than Off Season, but still loved it! Now on to The Woman.

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Jan 04, 2023 Paul McDonald rated it really liked it

Some memorable moments of bloodshed and terror.

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Oct 23, 2023 Sophie rated it really liked it

I enjoyed this book, it is set 11 years after the OG book so has a shared character or 2, full of gore and storyline but just didn't enjoy as much as the OG book and I don't really know why, it may be worth a re-read in future to see if my opinion shifts. ...more

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