Long Valley


Fiction - Thriller - General
352 Pages
Reviewed on 06/10/2021
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Robert E Kreig was born in Newcastle, Australia and grew up in its outer suburbs. He has always had a love for books, particularly well-told stories involving action, adventure and fear.

Some of Robert's favourite authors as a young reader included J. R. R. Tolkien, Stephen King, Orson Scott Card, Ray Bradbury and Frank Herbert. As he grew into adulthood, the list continued to lengthen, adding more great writers such as George R. R. Martin, Matthew Reilly, Nathan M. Farrugia, Dan Brown, James Patterson, Michael Connelly and Lee Child just to name a few.

Inspired by movies like Star Wars, King Kong, Jaws, Jason and the Argonauts and other great adventure pieces, Robert listened to the voices in his head and entertained the strange visions dancing through his mind to assist him with writing his fantasy series The Woodmyst Chronicles.

Robert has penned ten books for the series which follows the lives of many characters, particularly focussing upon a family who must face many trials before the epic conclusion. Clashing swords, strange creatures, flying dragons and sorcery inhabit the world surrounding Woodmyst.

Robert is always working on something new and has also written two stand-alone books, Long Valley and The Calm Voice. Both are dark action pieces set in a modern world.

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Long Valley is a work of dark thriller fiction with fantasy and horror elements and was penned by author Robert E. Kreig. The title comes from the small town in which the story is set: a valley surrounded by snow-capped mountains where peace and harmony are easily found. The close-knit community here believes that they know their little hamlet inside and out, until a terrible accident at the army base upsets the atmosphere, both metaphorically and literally. The accident causes a contagion to be let loose, and once it’s out, the infections just won’t stop. Once it spreads to the people of the valley, their urges grow wild and out of control.

Author Robert E. Kreig has created a blitzing action romp with excellent pacing that keeps you turning pages to see what will happen next. I enjoy a good zombie tale at all times, so finding such variety and unique intermingling of different zombie tropes was an excellent surprise here. The plot delivers a top-down view that sets out a cast of characters but doesn’t focus too deeply on any one ‘hero’ in particular, which made good sense for the length of the novel and its bloodthirsty content. Kreig triumphs in atmosphere and description the most, delivering small-town horror with big-budget gore and graphic moments of turning, feeding and true terror. Overall, Long Valley will certainly please horror and thriller enthusiasts with its pace and presence, and zombie fiction readers will find it a highly recommended virus-style romp.

Tracy A. Fischer

Something disturbing has come to light in the peaceful community of Long Valley, California. Once a place where everyone knew everyone, and trust and friendship amongst neighbors was the norm, the place is forever changed with a terrible accident at a nearby army base. So starts the exciting story in Long Valley, the new novel by debut author Robert E. Kreig. The explosion releases a contagion that infects everything, animal and human alike, and changes not only the very fabric of the community, but what it means to be alive. A small group of townspeople, from Deputy Sheriff Greg Vaughn and other members of the sheriff’s department, to the town doctor, to regular everyday townspeople who have to band together to try to save their town and themselves. If only the impulse to feed doesn’t become too strong.

Robert E. Kreig has a very engaging writing style, and his fast paced thriller of a book will have you hooked from page one. Long Valley is a roller coaster of a read, and will keep you on the edge of your seat. This book would appeal to any reader who enjoys action and adventure, fast paced thrillers, and books that feature military intrigue and misdeeds. Those who enjoy an ending with a twist won’t be disappointed either. I was very impressed with Mr. Kreig’s initial published work, and feel that this author has great promise. I, for one, will certainly be looking for more of his books in the future, and hope he is hard at work on a follow-up!

Tracy Slowiak

Oh my goodness! My heart is still pounding, my pulse is still racing, and my mind is still turning. Why, you may ask. The answer is simple. I just finished reading the excellent new thriller, Long Valley, by author Robert E. Kreig and I haven't quite recovered yet. The story follows citizens from the small community of the titular Long Valley, a sleepy little town where neighbors know each other and everyone is pretty secure in their safety. But when an accident at a nearby army base releases a contagious disease that can affect almost every living thing and threatens who remain clear of the disease, the citizens themselves have to mobilize to fight. Led by Sheriff's Deputy Vaughn and a cast of other characters who may never have thought of themselves as brave or heroic, this rag-tag group suddenly finds themselves in a position that they need to fight for their very survival.

Long Valley was a wild, thrilling and scary ride, all at the same time. Author Robert E. Kreig has written an inventive and exciting book, but one of the things that makes it the most creepy is that the reader can actually envision this very scenario happening, maybe even in their own community. The idea that the government could be developing a sinister agent, purportedly for war, that they could lose control of and affect their own citizens, well, in this day and age, this doesn't seem so far-fetched. I simply could not put this story down, and I am certain that it would appeal to readers who love thrillers, action or adventure, or just a heart-poundingly good read. I am happy to recommend Long Valley, and will be keeping my eyes open for the next book penned by author Robert E. Kreig. If it's anything like Long Valley, it will certainly be a must-read!

Hilary Hawkes

Robert E Kreig’s Long Valley is a thrilling, nail-biting, page turner of a story. Deputy Greg Vaughan (ex-military) finds himself heading up a team investigating and drawn into a suspicious explosion at a nearby military base. Livestock and other animals belonging to the valley farmers or inhabitants go missing, and are found dead and half-eaten. Then poor O’Brien is bitten by a weird creature which infects him, and turns him into something dangerous and inhuman. Things go from bad to worse as more and more people are killed or bitten and then, gruesomely, seek out others to kill and consume. With everyone trapped in the valley with no way out, Vaughan and his colleagues do their best to protect the community by getting everyone to take refuge in a fortified school building. Guns, grenades and RPG’s do little to stop the creatures' relentless pursuit of more victims though. Just as the team manage to evacuate the children and women to a safer location, they learn the alarming truth of the army’s experiment and what their horrifying fate is to be.

Kreig is an excellent writer and the plot of Long Valley goes at a great and gripping pace. I couldn’t put the book down. There is suspense, mystery and horror throughout, and each section of the chapters ends on a heart-stopping cliff edge. The descriptive elements are good too, and scenes and action are vividly conveyed to the reader. The story takes place over one weekend with the first mysterious and alarming event occurring on a Friday – leaving the reader knowing and fearing that things are going to get a whole lot worse by Monday morning. I liked the way the story looks at what happens to different groups of characters in different locations – tying all these events into the main unveiling of the whole horror. The characters are well thought out and believable, and behave and react just as you would guess a community would in such an initially unbelievable occurrence. Dialogue is very good too. There is a good mix of heroes/heroines, the unwise, innocents and, of course, the cold-hearted perpetrators of the experiment. If you love fast moving scary horror, complete with a twist at the end, then you’ll love Long Valley.

Paul Johnson

In the small community of Long Valley, once a gold mining town and now a seasonal logging community, everybody knows everybody and life is the usual small town simplicity. Long Valley is nestled beneath snow-capped mountains with one often dangerous road in and out. The town’s closest neighbor is an Army base situated just down the road. But, things are about to drastically change for the citizens of the town.

It starts with a convoy accident near the entrance of the valley’s army base. But, it’s not the accident that causes the problem, it is what the convoy was carrying. Things deteriorate quickly with a number of terrifying events placing the local civilians in mortal danger when a contagion is released into the environment, infecting pets, livestock, wild life and people. It’s up to the local law enforcement and a small band of citizens to try to save the town. But is that going to be enough?

Long Valley is billed as a mystery-thriller. Actually it’s a lot more than that. It is more reminiscent of a Michael Crichton medical, sci-fi thriller. The action starts with the first pages and doesn’t stop until the surprising ending. Yes, there were a few plot holes but the events portrayed keep the reader’s attention and expectations. There is some strong language, not a lot. There is, however, excessive violence which some might find a little much. I did not. Overall, it was a well developed story with some surprises along the way.

K.J. Simmill

No one had really wanted the military base near their homes, but an accord had been reached. The problem was it seemed their agreement was viewed as optional. If there were any issues the army had agreed to call Long Valley police, so when the calls started coming in about an explosion, it became apparent they were hiding something. Worse still, local animals were turning up dead, and the military seemed to be lying about what exactly had happened. Determined to get to the bottom of it, local law enforcement Vaughn and Dawson make a startling discovery. The army has been hiding something, and their accident has more repercussions than could ever be predicted. Wildlife and even people are changing. One thing is for certain, the once peaceful town of Long Valley has never known such terror.

With an escalating sense of dread, Robert E. Kreig's Long Valley will have you on the edge of your seat from the first chapter to the last. This horror tale takes aspects so familiar to multiple genres and presents them in a spine-tingling, intense plot. There are times you know what will happen, and you can do nothing but cringe in dread as you await the inevitable. The great scene building really gives you a feel for the town, relationships, and the atmosphere descending on the small town. We are drawn into the events starting Friday through Monday, and follow the actions of a wide array of characters as they do everything in their power to survive. Action, chaos, and horror combine with a gripping, atmospheric, third-person narrative that places you right in the center of the events as they unfold. Horror lovers will enjoy the perfect pacing and sense of forboding achieved in Long Valley.

Rabia Tanveer

Long Valley by Robert E. Kreig is a thriller/horror story where every man is for himself and survival is the main priority. The people of Long Valley were living a peaceful life, they had everything they desired and life was good. There is an army base near the valley and this is where the trouble starts to brew. So when a tragic accident occurs near the army base, a series of events takes place that changes the lives of the people in Long Valley. Suddenly something very dangerous is spreading and affecting animals and people in a way that is too terrifying to ignore. A small band of people is trying their best to keep everyone safe, but it is proving to be impossible. What really happened in this once peaceful valley? Is survival really an option anymore?

Fast-paced, action-packed and impressively well-narrated, this novel is perfect for the season. The author has added just the right amount of horror and suspense to the story to make it scary yet not overly so. I enjoyed how the author gave voice to many characters; this added depth to the story, making it complex and very interesting. I thought I would not be able to connect with the characters, but I was wrong. The descriptions were exceptionally well-crafted; the author ensured that he gave the details blow-by-blow to make sure the reader never stopped turning the pages. I enjoyed the flow the most; it allowed many characters to develop, to show their emotions, and allowed the reader to become invested in the story. Long Valley is extremely good!

Paul Johnson

In the small community of Long Valley, once a gold mining town and now a seasonal logging community, everybody knows everybody and life is the usual small town simplicity. Long Valley is nestled beneath snow-capped mountains with one often dangerous road in and out. The town’s closest neighbor is an Army base situated just down the road. But, things are about to drastically change for the citizens of the town.

It starts with a convoy accident near the entrance of the valley’s army base. But, it’s not the accident that causes the problem, it is what the convoy was carrying. Things deteriorate quickly with a number of terrifying events placing the local civilians in mortal danger when a contagion is released into the environment, infecting pets, livestock, wild life and people. It’s up to the local law enforcement and a small band of citizens to try to save the town. But is that going to be enough?

Long Valley is billed as a mystery-thriller. Actually it’s a lot more than that. It is more reminiscent of a Michael Crichton medical, sci-fi thriller. The action starts with the first pages and doesn’t stop until the surprising ending. Yes, there were a few plot holes but the events portrayed keep the reader’s attention and expectations. There is some strong language, not a lot. There is, however, excessive violence which some might find a little much. I did not. Overall, it was a well developed story with some surprises along the way.

Tracy Slowiak

Oh my goodness! My heart is still pounding, my pulse is still racing, and my mind is still turning. Why, you may ask. The answer is simple. I just finished reading the excellent new thriller, Long Valley, by author Robert E. Kreig and I haven't quite recovered yet. The story follows citizens from the small community of the titular Long Valley, a sleepy little town where neighbors know each other and everyone is pretty secure in their safety. But when an accident at a nearby army base releases a contagious disease that can affect almost every living thing and threatens who remain clear of the disease, the citizens themselves have to mobilize to fight. Led by Sheriff's Deputy Vaughn and a cast of other characters who may never have thought of themselves as brave or heroic, this rag-tag group suddenly finds themselves in a position that they need to fight for their very survival.

Long Valley was a wild, thrilling and scary ride, all at the same time. Author Robert E. Kreig has written an inventive and exciting book, but one of the things that makes it the most creepy is that the reader can actually envision this very scenario happening, maybe even in their own community. The idea that the government could be developing a sinister agent, purportedly for war, that they could lose control of and affect their own citizens, well, in this day and age, this doesn't seem so far-fetched. I simply could not put this story down, and I am certain that it would appeal to readers who love thrillers, action or adventure, or just a heart-poundingly good read. I am happy to recommend Long Valley, and will be keeping my eyes open for the next book penned by author Robert E. Kreig. If it's anything like Long Valley, it will certainly be a must-read!

Hilary Hawkes

Robert E Kreig’s Long Valley is a thrilling, nail-biting, page turner of a story. Deputy Greg Vaughan (ex-military) finds himself heading up a team investigating and drawn into a suspicious explosion at a nearby military base. Livestock and other animals belonging to the valley farmers or inhabitants go missing, and are found dead and half-eaten. Then poor O’Brien is bitten by a weird creature which infects him, and turns him into something dangerous and inhuman. Things go from bad to worse as more and more people are killed or bitten and then, gruesomely, seek out others to kill and consume. With everyone trapped in the valley with no way out, Vaughan and his colleagues do their best to protect the community by getting everyone to take refuge in a fortified school building. Guns, grenades and RPG’s do little to stop the creatures' relentless pursuit of more victims though. Just as the team manage to evacuate the children and women to a safer location, they learn the alarming truth of the army’s experiment and what their horrifying fate is to be.

Kreig is an excellent writer and the plot of Long Valley goes at a great and gripping pace. I couldn’t put the book down. There is suspense, mystery and horror throughout, and each section of the chapters ends on a heart-stopping cliff edge. The descriptive elements are good too, and scenes and action are vividly conveyed to the reader. The story takes place over one weekend with the first mysterious and alarming event occurring on a Friday – leaving the reader knowing and fearing that things are going to get a whole lot worse by Monday morning. I liked the way the story looks at what happens to different groups of characters in different locations – tying all these events into the main unveiling of the whole horror. The characters are well thought out and believable, and behave and react just as you would guess a community would in such an initially unbelievable occurrence. Dialogue is very good too. There is a good mix of heroes/heroines, the unwise, innocents and, of course, the cold-hearted perpetrators of the experiment. If you love fast moving scary horror, complete with a twist at the end, then you’ll love Long Valley.