This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Born and raised in Cleveland Ohio, Michael S. Vassel joined the US Army after high school and served as an Indirect Fire Infantryman at Fort Hood in Texas. After completing active duty, he joined the Ohio National Guard for an additional 3 years while he attended college.
Since 1989, Michael has worked as a mechanical engineer in the materials handling industry, designing conveyor systems for warehouses throughout the United States.
In 2018 Michael completed his first novel - a romance entitled "Fine Again". Since its publication, Michael has written several dark fantasy novels - most notably, "The Castle Chronicles" series.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
The Haunting of Matthew Keys is a work of psychological thriller fiction penned by author Michael S. Vassel. Toying with concepts of paranormal possibility and the tortured mind of someone who is in shock and grief, we find our central character Matt mourning the loss of his dear Samantha after a tragic and grisly accident. Though he tries to move on with his life and even begin dating again, strange interjections interrupt his plans to rehabilitate himself into the world. His possessions are damaged and objects seem to fly across the room without warning, leading him to believe that Samantha may not yet have left this plane of existence after all.
I really enjoyed this concise, sharp thriller for its many interesting psychological properties and the very satisfying way that the plot comes together as a whole right at the very end. Author Michael S. Vassel has created a truly successful work with this cohesion of mind and spirit, putting poor Matthew at the center of a powerful and malevolent tale just as he is at his most vulnerable. The writing style allows for plenty of tension and emotive moments, poised on a knife-edge between tenderness in grief and sudden, violent possibilities. There are plenty of smatterings of horror and paranormal for fans of those genres, but it is the commitment to the psychological at its very core that makes this work both realistic and genuinely frightening throughout. Overall, The Haunting of Matthew Keys is a super and highly recommended work of thriller fiction, not to be missed.
