Dead Eleven, Jimmy Juliano
Dead Eleven, Jimmy Juliano
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Dead Eleven

Author: Jimmy Juliano

Narrator: Lee Osorio, Tanis Parenteau, Annie Q, Shawn K. Jain, Cindy Piller, Tim Lounibos

Unabridged: 13 hr 12 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 06/27/2023


Synopsis

"An ominously slow burn...Keep the lights on for this one."—A PEOPLE MUST-READ FOR SUMMER
"Very creepy...you've been warned."—R.L. STINE
"Gripping.”—ANA REYES

On a creepy island where everyone has a strange obsession with the year 1994, a newcomer arrives, hoping to learn the truth about her son’s death—but finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into the bizarrely insular community and their complicated rules…

Clifford Island. When Willow Stone finds these words written on the floor of her deceased son’s bedroom, she’s perplexed. She’s never heard of it before, but soon learns it’s a tiny island off Wisconsin’s Door County peninsula, 200 miles from Willow’s home. Why would her son write this on his floor? Determined to find answers, Willow sets out for the island.
 
After a few days on Clifford, Willow realizes: This place is not normal. Everyone seems to be stuck in a particular day in 1994: They wear outdated clothing, avoid modern technology, and, perhaps most mystifyingly, watch the OJ Simpson car chase every evening. When she asks questions, people are evasive, but she learns one thing: Close your curtains at night.
 
High schooler Lily Becker has lived on Clifford her entire life, and she is sick of the island’s twisted mythology and adhering to the rules. She’s been to the mainland, and everyone is normal there, so why is Clifford so weird? Lily is determined to prove that the islanders’ beliefs are a sham. But are they?
 
Five weeks after Willow arrives on the island, she disappears. Willow’s brother, Harper, comes to Clifford searching for his sister, and when he learns the truth—that this island is far more sinister than anyone could have imagined—he is determined to blow the whole thing open.
 
If he can get out alive....

About The Author

Jimmy Juliano is a writer and high school educator. Several of his stories have gone viral on the Reddit “NoSleep” forum, and his debut novel, Dead Eleven, is currently in development at A+E Studios. He lives outside Chicago with his wife, daughter, and miniature Goldendoodle.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Heather on July 15, 2023

The cover drew me in on this one because yes I am a 90's child and any cover with a VHS tape is appealing to me. I wouldn't classify this as horror but it was interesting I will say. The ending was a little meh but the overall plot of an entire island being stuck in this loop of 1994 is super interes......more

Goodreads review by Alix on July 09, 2023

2.5 stars I really didn’t like the format of this book because it felt very gimmicky. It’s a mix of letters, text messages, interviews, and articles not to mention the multiple character POV’s. The mixed format resulted in a lack of depth in the story. I also had a difficult time forming any connect......more

Goodreads review by Ruxandra Grrr on July 11, 2023

This had a lot of potential, but it ended up falling very flat, the flatness of it glaring. It does very little (if anything) to dig beyond the surface of the story. I think there's maybe 250 pages worth of story here and the extra is just repetitions and relaying the same information but in other w......more

Goodreads review by Trish on November 07, 2023

This was a coincidental find through my wingman buddy-reader, Brad. You can read his review for this book *here*. Tragedy has struck a family, a young boy is dead, and the parents - as so many - can't cope with it. Especially the mother, Willow. One day, she finds the name of an island written on the......more

Goodreads review by Elizabeth on May 29, 2024

I had such high hopes for Dead Eleven, intrigued by its concept of an island stuck in 1993, evoking all that good ol' '90s nostalgia, and that's what made my disappointment in this novel all the more bitter. I did not enjoy the writing style, starting with the author's note, which gave away far too......more


Quotes

"[A] breathtaking debut thriller... Juliano draws memorable characters and places them in an indelible setting, using artful prose and judicious dashes of dark humor to leave a major impression. It’s a scary-good debut." —Publishers Weekly (STARRED REVIEW)

"A remarkable debut and hopefully announces the arrival of a fresh new voice in horror.” —Locus

“A creepy, fast-paced blast from the past…Juliano comes as a new voice in horror, perfect for fans of Stephen King, Grady Hendrix, and Paul Tremblay.” —Booklist

"An ominously slow burn set on a creepy fictional island that appears stuck in the past. When a woman vanishes, residents and visitors dig into the strange local mythology. Keep the lights on for this one.” —People

"Dead Eleven is a surprisingly considerate meditation on grief, nostalgia, and the human urge to control the unknown and unavoidable. Clifford Island and its inhabitants are a solid metaphor for blind faith, and the great and terrible things that people will do when they believe fervently in a cause. The book also contains one of the best descriptions of a horror novel antagonist I’ve ever had the chilling pleasure of encountering. It’s a solidly scary debut that has already been optioned for film and should translate to that medium magnificently." —Criminal Element

"Very creepy. Dreadfully creepy. Chillingly creepy. Horrifically creepy. You've been warned."
R.L. Stine, New York Times bestselling author of Goosebumps and Fear Street

“Dead Eleven
brought me right back to the nineties with its VHS tapes, Pogs and Trapper Keepers, balancing nostalgia and terror to explore the dangers of living in the past. If you liked Netflix's Stranger Things and Dark, don't miss Jimmy Juliano's gripping horror debut.”
—Ana Reyes, New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Pines

Dead Eleven is a strikingly original treasure chest of horror, suspense and nostalgia. I’ve never read anything like it. Jimmy Juliano is a first-rate storyteller. I was spellbound from the opening page.” Richard Chizmar, New York Times bestselling author of Chasing The Boogeyman

“A captivating mystery – not unlike the story’s island – which draws you in and may never let you go. Jimmy Juliano proves how effortlessly he can create a deeply unsettling mood. Steeped in 90s nostalgia, this story instilled in me a claustrophobic dread. This small time-locked community seems equal parts idyllic and abhorrent which made me yearn to learn its secrets. Like a chilling lake breeze on a rocky beach, this book will send a shiver down your spine as it beckons you to follow it into the darkness.” —David Cummings, Creator of The NoSleep Podcast

“An unforgettable collage of mystery, suspense and mounting dread. With his debut novel, Jimmy Juliano cranks the amp on creepy chills up to 11.” —Steve Hockensmith, New York Times bestselling author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls

“Nothing this full of dread, paranoia, and grief should be half as much fun as Jimmy Juliano’s Dead Eleven. A compelling island horror tale that drags you inexorably into its mystery. Put this at the top of your wishlist.” —Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Road of Bones and All Hallows

"I could tell you that Jimmy Juliano ripped a hole in my head and dumped in a gallon of nightmare juice, but that would be underselling all this book's got to offer. Dead Eleven is a work of uncommon craft, mood, and above all, heart. If an author doesn't make you care about their characters, a reader won't care what becomes of them. And man, this book will make you care."
Nick Cutter, nationally bestselling author of The Troop

“Places hold memories—and some places keep horrible secrets. Jimmy Juliano has woven together nostalgia, longing and atmospheric dread into a keep-you-up-all-night debut. Are you ready for the secrets of Clifford Island? Just be sure to close the curtains and whatever you do, don’t look out the windows.” —Jennifer McMahon, New York Times bestselling author of The Children on the Hill