80s Horror Movie Style Mayhem!

Horror, humour, and all the hallmarks of an 80s cheesy horror flick rolled into a fantastically engaging story. Think over-the-top style violence and mayhem you’d get in horror movies of that era, and you’ll be on the right path. It’s Christmas Eve, 1985 and shoppers inside Mallzilla, the largest shopping mall in Springfield are about to have a very not-merry Christmas.

The story started off a little slow, with a lot of introductions of the important characters of the book, but everything took off quickly once Abaddon, a demon from Hell started cutting loose inside the shopping mall. After spending the last 500-ish year safely contained thanks to the intervention of the church, Abaddon has finally escaped and needs to build an army.

Standing in his way? Father Sam, a priest handing out fliers to the masses who just want to get their shopping done, mall cop Sarah Ridley who goes way back with Sam, Ricky Gibson, a failing rockstar who can only land gigs playing shopping malls, and a host of mall militia, a SWAT team, and an eight-year-old girl.

Locked inside the mall with the demon, they’re the only hope for humanity. The cops and priests outside can’t get in, and shoppers are dropping like flies as Abaddon carves his way through the throngs.

A massive body count accompanied by lots of needless violence and gore. Heads being karate-chopped off, Santa going nuts and killing his helpers, guts being ripped out of people, people getting eaten alive. Plus, the staple of any 80s horror movies; boobs. Completely over-the-top but entertaining as all get-out.

A strong cast of characters, from the heroes of Sam and Sarah, through bonkers mix of chaotic, crazy, funny, tragic and tough guy supporting roles with decently developed backgrounds. A good mix of humour with the horror, balancing out even some of the darker moments. Some seriously intense scenes, yet still managing to be light.

The narration by Justin Price was well done. Price voices a large cast of characters ranging from kids and softly spoken priests to burley Scotsmen and demonic voices, and the production was excellent as well. No background noises, obvious retakes or the like. A solid production all round.

Fun and thrilling, this nostalgic throwback to 80s horror had me hooked. With what looks to be a three-book series, this one had a satisfying ending. No massive cliff-hangers, just a little tease of what else might be in store. Not yet on audio at time of writing, but I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next audiobook.

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Heart, Humor, Horror - what else is there?

I loved, loved, LOVED this title! It felt like a 80s-style horror movie in the best way, with some laugh out loud one-liners, and such fun/well-defined characters, all nestled in a perfect possession story. The narrator does an excellent job (and I am sooo picky with narrators!) by giving each character their own voice and his work with the demon, ugh *chef's kiss*. Perfection.

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Malls are not just for Zombies!

Shopping malls have been the site for massive sales, music, models, zombies, and serial killers. On the busiest day of shopping (the day before Christmas) demons run amok in the largest shopping mall in Springfield. It is up to the Mall Priest, Father Sam, and his rag-tag team of followers to send Abaddon and his recruits back to the land of fire and brimstone!

The authors, Chris Heinick and Kate Reedwood, craft an intriguing storyline that blends darkness, humor, and horror in the 70s-80s style making the narrative captivating, though it contains disturbing and triggering actions, along with some inappropriate language, the balance keeps it from being overly offensive. The authors seamlessly collaborate, creating an immersive tale. Their vivid descriptions made the sight of heads rolling down the bowling alley vividly come to life in my imagination. The authors are deliberate in their detailed descriptions of each character and fully develop them.

The narrator, Justin Price is excellent! He skillfully infused his voice with the right emotion and nuance for each character and situation. His expert pacing and delivery not only sustained but heightened the suspense at key moments throughout the lengthy audiobook. The immersive experience he created didn’t just transport listeners into the story—it pulled them in so deeply that they became absorbed without even realizing it.

This is a fascinating audiobook that challenges the listener to reflect on faith, trust, and whether going to the mall is a good idea!

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

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Mall Priest: A Thrilling Mall Apocalypse

I have to admit, I was hooked from the moment I heard the premise of Mall Priest by Chris Heinicke and Kate Reedwood. A priest, a rock star, and a demon battling it out in a 1980s shopping mall? Count me in! This audiobook delivered everything I hoped for and more, blending horror, nostalgia, and a dash of dark humor into an experience that had me glued to my headphones.

The story plunges you straight into the chaos of Mallzilla on Christmas Eve, 1985, and doesn’t let up. The authors do an incredible job of recreating the eerie, anything-goes atmosphere of classic 80s horror, but with a unique twist. As the mall’s priest, Father Sam, and his unlikely crew of heroes face off against Abaddon, the Devil’s deadliest soldier (who escapes in the opening scenes of this book).

I felt like I was living through the best kind of horror slasher—a little gross, a lot intriguing, and impossible to look away from. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the way they weave religious elements into the plot. I wasn’t sure how that aspect would play out, but it added a compelling layer of tension that kept the stakes high.

Justin Price’s narration is the cherry on top of this wild ride. He manages to capture the intensity of the story, nailing everything from the eerie calm before the possessions to the frantic pace of a battle against evil. His ability to switch between the voices of the possessed and the unpossessed was nothing short of impressive, and it’s clear he put a lot into getting the pacing just right.

The callbacks to mall culture from the 80s hit me with a wave of nostalgia, too, making the whole experience even more immersive. If you’re in the mood for a horror story that’s equal parts fun and freaky, Mall Priest is definitely worth a listen.

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Wild Ride Christmas Comedy Horror!

The Mall Priest is a fast-paced, gore-filled, comedy-horror novel with relentless action and suspense. The storyline is incredibly original with its premise of an unleashed demon taking possession of people in a shopping mall on Christmas Eve to build an apocalyptic army. Even if horror is not your genre of choice, you’ll still likely find this book difficult to put down. The book features many compelling characters, including an alpha hero priest, an embattled rock star, a snarky demon, quirky supporting characters, and the ultimate demon hunter squad!

The mall, perfectly named Mallzilla, comes to life in all its 1980s glory. The writing makes it so easy to visualize the shops, aisles, and the Christmas tree concourse where most of the action unfolds. There is even a retro bowling alley where one of the thrilling battle scenes takes place. The author uses all of these fantastic settings to great effect, creating both truly horrifying and absurdly hilarious scenes.

It should also be noted that there is some religious ideology in this book, but it’s mostly presented by the priest protagonist, Father Sam, in his efforts to exorcise the demon-possessed humans and banish the demon Abaddon back to Hell. None of it is written in a preachy manner, so it definitely doesn’t detract from the story. There are also interesting references to other mystical spiritual ideologies, including protective crystals, Gaia, and angels, that add further intrigue to the story.

The story effectively highlights the conflict between modern-day materialism and spiritual faith by using the juxtaposition of frenetic Christmas shoppers alongside an unperturbed priest who's upholding his spiritual convictions. After such an action-packed storyline, the epilogue provides some more comic relief, as well as some unexpected twists that give some insight into what may arise in the book’s sequel.

Overall, Mall Priest is a fun, atmospheric, and thought-provoking comedy-horror book that stands out for its originality. If a Christmas story with a retro vibe, some gore, non-stop suspense, and memorable characters tickles your fancy, then you’ll definitely want to give this book a try! It’s also great to know that books two and three in the series have already been released, so you can joyfully devour the entire series this spooky season!


🎤NARRATOR PERFORMANCE🎤

Narrator Justin Price does a phenomenal job elevating this story to its full potential. Price brings a commanding voice to the story from start to finish and perfectly portrays each character with a distinct and authentic voice that gives the audiobook the feel of a multicast listen. In particular, his portrayal of the demon Abaddon is a perfect combination of terrifying and hilarious, matching the character’s dark, sardonic persona. Price never wavers in his performance, paces the story incredibly well, and brilliantly increases the emotional intensity of the characters towards the end, making for a very captivating listen! With such exceptional narration, the recommended format for enjoying this book is most definitely the audiobook! It's a wild ride of a listen that you won't soon forget!

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