Review: WaxWorld

WaxWorld by Mark Gillespie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of WAXWORLD by Mark Gillespie

WAXWORLD is an exciting, unstoppable, novella which immediately captured my attention and never let go. I loved everything about it, including the characters (primarily the protagonist, with additional secondary characters of importance appearing along the way), the unending suspense, the protagonist's thought processes concerning possible causes of his situation (which mirrored my own, admittedly paranoiac, assumptions), his ethical behavior, his morality, and his devotion to his parents and girlfriend. Jack Murray is a surprisingly “good guy,” given his age at the time of the tale, his affluent background, his genetic blessedness, and his athletic capability. Actually, nowadays I'm surprised to find “good guys” in any social or economic class, so his altruism was a remarkably strong point in his favor. Given his character, the ending was particular poignant, and despite how it turned out, that ending was welcome and I applaud “Jack” for his conscious and altruistic decisions.

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Review: Twin Lakes : The Autumn Fires

Twin Lakes : The Autumn Fires by Melissa Lason
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review: TWIN LAKES: AUTUMN FIRES by Michelle Garza and Melissa Larson

TWIN LAKES: AUTUMN FIRES is EXACTLY the kind of electrifying, breathtaking, heart-pounding, Horror suspense you need for October build up to Halloween reading! From first page to last, I could not relinquish reading, and on finishing, I find myself hungry for the return of these unusual characters and this very exceptional (spooky!) little Pacific Northwest community. Horror, religious persecution, paganism, ritual sacrifice: TWIN LAKES: AUTUMN FIRES is rolling in the good stuff horror aficionados love! If you love and admire the WAYWARD PINES novels, or the series of TWIN PEAKS, BATES MOTEL, and CASTLE ROCK, then this is your next great read!!!

Review: A Deep Horror That Was Very Nearly Awe

A Deep Horror That Was Very Nearly Awe by J.R. Hamantaschen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review: A DEEP HORROR THAT WAS VERY NEARLY AWE by J. R. Hamantaschen

This author falls into a special category all his own: a specialized category of the Outre, New Weird, and exceptional. I can only think of one other who is consistently an author of "Something Else," Darren Speegle. Both have the quality of causing the reader to ponder, "What Dimension is this? And how did I get here?" With each story by Mr. Hamantaschen, I am transported to somewhere that on its surface is consensus reality, but in actuality is no more our reality than is a mirror image "the real thing." Like some nightmares, these stories refuse to quietly depart. Instead, once you read them, they're here to stay. A DEEP HORROR THAT WAS VERY NEARLY AWE is Mr. Hamantaschen's third collection, and features eleven stories.

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Review: Dracula: Badass Vampire

Dracula: Badass Vampire by Brent Reilly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Review: DRACULA BADASS VAMPIRE by Brent Reilly

The author attempts to humanize one of my favorite historical icons, 15th century Eastern European Prince Vlad Dracul. He lived in a horribly bloodthirsty era, one which boggles the modern sensitivity. He was no clean liver himself, but history acknowledges that he did have rational, if imperfect, reasons for his actions.

I rate this novel 18+ for violence, profanity, and sexual situations.

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Review: Dracula: Badass Vampire

Dracula: Badass Vampire by Brent Reilly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: The Window

The Window by Glenn Rolfe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review: THE WINDOW by Glenn Rolfe

Never gonna look in a mirror or out a window again! Thanks to Mr. Glenn Rolfe, who brings a most implacably terrifying tale, one with historical antecedents (can't argue with those grimdark Teutonic "fairy tales," now!) and a way-strong contemporary setting in which he works in several important interpersonal issues. On one level, THE WINDOW is a contemporary coming of age, with friendships, new love, dealing with parents' separation and new boyfriend/girlfriend, bullies, changing schools, etc. On a deeper level, no one should be subjected to the terrors of the coming of age of James, Carrie, Kevin, Eric, and Hank. Many adults could not have coped. THE WINDOW is deep and rich with Meaning, and even if all you're hoping for is a strong scary story--THE WINDOW will surely scare your socks off!

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Celebrate BANNED BOOKS WEEK: READ!

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FRIGHTFALL 2018

Frightfall Sign Up

Follow my Progress in this Post and at:2018 Frightfall Goodreads Shelf.

Completed:  51 books.



Frightfall Reading Plan:
(Includes Pre-Readathon September 29-30
And Post-Readathon Oct. 31-November 1
TWIN LAKES: AUTUMN FIRES. READ.

WAXWORLD. READ.
SOMETHING EVIL THIS WAY COMES (THE HAUNTING OF BRIAR PARK BOOK 1). READ. Abbey and Convent.
JINXED. READ.
FEAST IN THE ABBEY. AUDIO. "READ"
THE MONKEY'S PAW. AUDIO. "READ"
DEATH ON THE RIVER. (Abandoned Abbey).
THE MONASTERY MURDERS
SECRETS IN THE SHADOWS (The Monastery Murders Book 1 of a Trilogy).
MURDER AT THE MONASTERY
THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO.
THE MONK.
THE GREATEST GHOST AND HORROR STORIES EVER WRITTEN
THE GREAT GOD PAN.
CARMILLA.
THE DEVILS OF LOUDUN. (Convent)
THE EXORCIST.
REREADS:
EXORCIST FALLS
EXORCIST ROAD
(Roman Catholic priests)
If one notices a theme of Abbeys, Convents, Monasteries, and Roman Catholicism, that Theme is intentional. October is NaNo Prep and November is NaNoWriMo. My novel project is HOARFROST CONVENT COVEN, inspired by WINTERBAY ABBEY which I read recently.

Review: Things You Need

Things You Need by Kevin Lucia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review: THINGS YOU NEED by Kevin Lucia

That old proverbial expression, “what you want is not what you need”? Well, Kevin Lucia's spectacular new thematic collection is both what you want and what you need. Certainly that proved true for this reviewer. I've admired Mr. Lucia's fictional community of Clifton Heights (both admired, enjoyed, and feared) for quite some time, and I was ecstatic to return to its “loving” arms and welcoming smile.

Mr. Lucia's horror is never Splatterpunk. It is neither unseemly nor undignified. His is the horror-under-the-surface, much like the neverending eternal mine fires burning under the former community of Centralia, PA. Usually (mostly) you don't see it, but somehow (“there's something in the lockers”) your intuition is aware of it, and something in your spirit screams: “DANGER! DANGER!”

Mr. Lucia's horror creeps on little cat feet. But creeping along is an inevitable, implacable, “you ought never to have come here but you did and oh boy are you in trouble now” danger. You can't get away, you can't get out. Your personality and character are going to be peeled right down to the inevitable core by revelation after revelation. And when it's done, you'll either be someone new—or you will no longer exist—like many of the characters. But what a wonderful fun ride it's going to be!

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Review: AntiAmerica

AntiAmerica by T. K. Falco
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review: ANTIAMERICA by T. K. Falco

ANTIAMERICA is an engrossing gaze into contemporary culture and a number of important social and ethical issues. Its theme is also potentially predictive, and readers will be left pondering, "Is such an event possible? Could it happen in the U. S.? What if it DOES?" The characters readily engaged my empathy, and this thriller of activism held my attention right from the start.

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Review: Charlie Harmer Takes A Ride

Charlie Harmer Takes A Ride by Brendan Detzner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review: CHARLIE HARMER TAKES A RIDE

Extraordinary! Surreal, encompassing, out of this world, and beyond this life, CHARLIE HARMER TAKES A RIDE is a freewheeling roller coaster journey through Death, Life, Hades, and the human heart, with a constant drumbeat of music and the music industry and aftermarket. It's breathtaking.


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Review: The Mourner's Cradle: A Widow’s Journey

The Mourner's Cradle: A Widow’s Journey by Tommy B. Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review: THE MOURNER'S CRADLE by Tommy B. Smith

A strong heroine is always to be desired, and in THE MOURNER'S CRADLE author Tommy B. Smith offers us one of the strongest. Newly widowed Anne Sharpe, wife of an unfortunately discredited historical/archaeological researcher, is nearly indefatigable. Not a superman (in the Nietzschean meaning), but an individual who withstands far more than most in contemporary pampered culture could tolerate. I think she's become one of my idols. Like the Timex watch of the 1950's, she "takes a licking and keeps on ticking." And as long as she keeps her purpose in mind, she's unstoppable.

From the US to the Peruvian Andes, on the trail of what might be one of the most startling and powerful archaeological discoveries of our time, Anne Sharpe, heroine extraordinaire, keeps her purpose in her mind and perseveres, despite the odds arrayed against her. Anne Sharpe rocks.



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Review: A Taste of Murder

A Taste of Murder by Jack Wear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review: A TASTE OF MURDER by J. H. Wear

An endearing Canadian mystery with a multiplicity of plot twists, A TASTE OF MURDER keeps Edmonton detectives--and readers--pondering who is the killer, and even who was the intended victim--and why? Why this victim, and why at this particular time?

At a regional wine festival held at an Edmonton convention center, a partner in a sales agency dies during his booth's morning set-up. He did have some cardiac weakness, but the cause of death was more imminent. Did he anger someone sufficiently to inspire premeditation? Certainly this wasn't spur of the moment manslaughter. So who wanted him out of the way, and why?

Enjoyable homicide detectives, an unusual approach to investigation (quantum metaphysics as investigative tool), and an education in wine production and marketing keep suspense turned up and readers tuned in.

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Review: Creature

Creature by Hunter Shea
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review: CREATURE by Hunter Shea


CREATURE is difficult going, because the experience of living vicariously through a protagonist who suffers autoimmune diseases is not only terribly painful even to read, I can't even stretch my imagination to accommodate this level of suffering. That applies to the suffering protagonist and to her dedicated caregiving husband. I can't imagine suffering in such agony, for months, years, decades. I just longed for the characters' misery to end.

That aside, the Horror here is about as implacable as it gets. It's horror of a failing physique, horror of a mind wigging out, and external horror, which eventually proves to be very horrifying indeed.

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LABOR DAY READATHON 2018

August 31-September 3.

The 48-Hour Kickoff Readathon to start Something Wicked This Fall Comes (September 1-October 31) falls in the middle two days.  Here's my planned Reading List:.

THE CASE OF JENNIE BRICE by Mary Roberts Rinehart.
THE BAT by Mary Roberts Rinehart


(I read these in childhood, and any other mysteries by this exceptional author.)



DANDELION WINE by Ray Bradbury

(This is the first in the Greentown Series. We'll be reading the second, SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, in October.)



ARKHAM DETECTIVE AGENCY Tribute Anthology. (Lovecraft Noir).

Additionally during the Labor Day Readathon, I plan to read:

CARNIVAL OF FEAR by J. G. Faherty

SCRAPS OF PAPER by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (Spookie Town Mystery #1)

ALL THINGS SLIP AWAY by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (Spookie Town Mystery #2)

I HAVE THE SIGHT by Rick Wood (Edward King #1)

HUMPTY DUMPTY by Willow Rose

Books Read_Labor Day Readathon:

CREATURE by Hunter Shea.  August 31
DEAL OR NO DEAL by William Meikle.
I HAVE THE SIGHT by Rick Wood.
THE CASE OF JENNIE BRICE by Mary Roberts Rinehart.
CAT FANCY by A. E. Hodge.
ARKHAM DETECTIVE AGENCY (Tribute Anthology)
THE BIRD by Willow Rose
TROLLNIGHT by Peter Tremayne

Review: Thirteen Days by Sunset Beach

Thirteen Days by Sunset Beach by Ramsey Campbell
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Review: THIRTEEN DAYS BY SUNSET BEACH by Ramsey Campbell

A wonderful new novel from a modern horror master, THIRTEEN DAYS BY SUNSET BEACH is a masterpiece of characterization, and deeply emotional. The horror is subtly approached, filtered through the viewpoint of senior citizen Ray, a man who knows full well real-life horror is approaching all too soon. So he sets high hopes on this extended family vacation on the Greek Isles.

Ray, his wife Sandra, adult offspring Doug and Natalie, their partners, and three grandchildren gather on the should-be sun-drenched island of Vasilema, expecting the usual Greek vacation: sight-seeing, tourist-catering restaurants, guided tours, and so forth. Instead, they find cloudy skies, no mirrors, strange disturbing nightmares, and evasive, secretive, locals.

I loved the wry humour and the subtlety of the horror. Mr. Campbell can stage a story with several characters of importance plus a wide cast of background characters, and make them all vibrant. I found in myself much empathy for Ray, Sandra, their son Doug and his wife Pris, and the three grandchildren, ages16, 15, and 5. Not so much for prissy daughter Natalie and second husband Julian. Julian is really a prize (a booby prize). A controlling Narcissist stacked on a deeply unconscious inferiority complex, he finds his purpose in playing Emperor of the Universe, controlling every one's lives and snarking when others inevitably fail to match his impossible standards. Mr. Campbell plays out Julian against the perfect background of his father-in-law Ray and brother-in-law Doug, both men of sterling integrity, high intellect, and good sense. A substantial portion of my delight in this special novel stemmed from watching this combination play out.

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Review: A Season in Hell

A Season in Hell by Kenneth W. Cain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review: A SEASON IN HELL by Kenneth W. Cain

I know zilch about baseball, but I know about racism, bigotry, sexism, abuse, and violence. I also know about the human tendencies to blame, to ignore, and to think violence is an appropriate tool. I am aware of all that, and so is author Kenneth W. Cain, who created a novella that made me cry, copiously. Then.his brilliant, incisive, Afterword made me weep all over again.

I don't know baseball, but I know wrong and right. I know standing strong for what's right. So does Mr. Cain. Don't let this novella pass you by unread.

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Review: The Mouth of the Dark

The Mouth of the Dark by Tim Waggoner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review: THE MOUTH OF THE DARK by Tim Waggoner

I loved this scary horror novel! In Oakmont, the underworld isn't organized crime. Instead, it's an extensive "region" called Shadow, a sort of shifting portal to that (and those) which lie Beyond. Open, to an extent, to "normals," Shadow magnetizes humans who possess "the Eye," and continued exposure results in "changes." Jayce can't remember a frightening incident when he was thirteen, nor can he account for the subsequent missing time. But now that his adult daughter may be missing, he discovers he does have "the Eye," and apparently daughter Emory inherited it. So, determined to locate and rescue her, Jayce starts hunting throughout shadow. THE MOUTH OF THE DARK is an exquisitely terrifying story.

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48-Hour Readathon_SOMETHING WICKED THIS FALL COMES

September 1-2
48 Hour Readathon
I'll be reading Ray Bradbury' s classic, DANDELION WINE, and October will be the readalong of SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.
And a Tribute Anthology to C.J. Henderson, ARKHAM DETECTIVE AGENCY.

Here's my planned Reading List:.
THE CASE OF JENNIE BRICE by Mary Roberts Rinehart.
(I read this in childhood, and any other mysteries by this exceptional author.)

DANDELION WINE by Ray Bradbury
(This is the first in the Greentown Series. We'll be reading the second, SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, in October.)

ARKHAM DETECTIVE AGENCY Tribute Anthology. (Lovecraft Noir).

Books Read:
THE CASE OF JENNIE BRICE by Mary Roberts Rinehart. (Classic Mystery.:
CAT FANCY: A SHORT HORROR STORY by A. E. Hodge.
ARKHAM DETECTIVE AGENCY (TRIBUTE ANTHOLOGY). (Lovecraftian-Noir).
THE BIRD by Willow Rose. (Florida Creature Horror. Novella.)
55%: TROLLNIGHT by Peter Tremayne. (Scandi-Horror. Think Nevill's Ritual)

Review: Ghost Boy

Ghost Boy by Stafford Betty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review: GHOST BOY by Stafford Betty

A lovely coming of age tale about a boy who is subtly "different": Growing up in Bakersfield, the son of a strict Alabama-raised father and a generous, open-minded Hispanic mother, Ben sees ghosts. A young girl who appears to alert him to potential danger he names Abby. She doesn't speak, but his late grandmother does. His father thinks he needs psychiatric help; his mother believes, and nourishes Ben's truth. Ben faces the decision every day to turn aside from his gift, or to fully embrace it.

This novel I recommend to all. It's heartwarming, encouraging, and inspiring. Ben is twelve and thirteen during the story, but readers of all ages can discover excitement and encouragement within these well-written pages.


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BOUT OF BOOKS 23_WRAP

MY COMPLETED :



TEN THOUSAND THUNDERS by Brian Trent



HEX HALL by Rachel Hawkins



KILL HILL CARNAGE by Tim Meyer



NEVER SAY GOODBYE by Richard Parker



NOT HER DAUGHTER by Rea Frey



THE SWITCH HOUSE by Tim Meyer



THE CHANGELING by Molly Harper



PROVIDENCE by Caroline Kepnes



THE MURDERER'S WIFE by Daralyse Lyons



DADDY WON'T KILL YOU: HAUNTING IN THE WOODS by Caroline Clark



FLOWER POWER FATALITY by Sally Carpenter



DOORBELLS AT DUSK ANTHOLOGY.



THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER by Jonathan Janz.

I read 13 books: 12 novels, 1 Anthology. 12 Kindle, 1 print
 No Audio.