WHO

WHO'S COMING DOWN YOUR CHIMNEY TONIGHT?




Charles Stross, "Overtime"

2018: CTHULHU FOR CHRISTMAS

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Review: Mommy, there's something under my bed.

Mommy, there's something under my bed. Mommy, there's something under my bed. by Ardy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For those who don't think a short story can really have the powerful horror impact of a novel or novella, give this one a try. I think my hair stood on end, and I certainly got chills. The best part of the twist is its unexpectedness--and its implacability. A polished gem, indeed.

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Review: Haunted Cruise: The Shakedown

Haunted Cruise: The Shakedown Haunted Cruise: The Shakedown by Tanya R. Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review of HAUNTED CRUISE: THE SHAKEDOWN by Tanya R. Taylor

HAUNTED CRUISE: THE SHAKEDOWN, by the author of CORNELIUS and REVENGE OF CORNELIUS, is populated with some really strong characters, and alternatively some distinctly off-the-wall and/or repulsive characters. I almost think the plotting takes a back seat to the characterizations, which is fine with me as a reader. Definitely the horror element is on the gory side, but when the reader discovers the proximate cause of the manifestation, she or he will nod wisely thinking, "Oh, so that's why!" Ms. Taylor ties up that effect and cause neatly, in a taut retribution scenario. Perhaps best of all from my point of view, there is Character Evolution!

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Review: The Wells Of Hell

The Wells Of Hell The Wells Of Hell by Graham Masterton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of THE WELLS OF HELL by Graham Masterton

I read this novel immediately after reading the author's totally excellent FIRE SPIRIT, so I went from "burning" to "drowning." Both books are superb. Gory, yes; extreme, yes; but such wonderful character development and plotting. THE WELLS OF HELL particularly impressed me with its nods to H.P. Lovecraft, and the weaving in of Lovecraft's Cthulhu and the Elder Gods. Indeed, the author's explication of pre-history, of Atlantis, and the Elder Gods who once ruled Earth, actually makes logical sense--one may or may not choose to believe, but it is all presented in a way that makes the reader ponder, "Well, just maybe that could have happened." So the novel was at once realistic and horrifying. The protagonist, Mason Prentiss, is a gem of a character, as are several of the supporting (I can't say secondary, because they're important too) characters.

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Review: The Printer From Hell

The Printer From Hell The Printer From Hell by Amy Cross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of THE PRINTER FROM HELL by Amy Cross

I've been reading Amy Cross' wonderful horror since I discovered THE GHOSTS OF LONDON. This story is gory (more than I expected, and it qualifies as "horror extreme.") It is also virtually unforgettable. The next day after my one-sitting read I kept talking to household members about it (or at least alluding to it: "Be careful of that printer. Are you sure you want to use that printer? It might be a Portal!") Needless to say, this story of a poor feckless spouse who just wants to be a proud decisionmaker and acquire the respect of his wife and young son, only to fall into misery, despair, and loss, quite strongly affected me.



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Review: Seven Deadly Tales of Terror

Seven Deadly Tales of Terror Seven Deadly Tales of Terror by Bryan Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of SEVEN DEADLY TALES by Bryan D. Smith

I have been reading this author for a while, and he is one of my "turn-to" authors for horror extreme, so when I discovered this collection and learned that six of the tales are new, I was overjoyed. Rightfully so, because these are kickin' tales, each one of which will leave a hook in the mind, stirring memories of the characters and events long after the last page has been turned.

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Review: Haunted Cruise: The Shakedown

Haunted Cruise: The Shakedown Haunted Cruise: The Shakedown by Tanya R. Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review of HAUNTED CRUISE: THE SHAKEDOWN by Tanya R. Tucker

HAUNTED CRUISE: THE SHAKEDOWN, by the author of CORNELIUS and REVENGE OF CORNELIUS, is populated with some really strong characters, and alternatively some distinctly off-the-wall and/or repulsive characters. I almost think the plotting takes a back seat to the characterizations, which is fine with me as a reader. Definitely the horror element is on the gory side, but when the reader discovers the proximate cause of the manifestation, she or he will nod wisely thinking, "Oh, so that's why!" Ms. Tucker ties up that effect and cause neatly, in a taut retribution scenario. Perhaps best of all from my point of view, there is Character Evolution!

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Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Review: I'm Thinking of Ending Things

I'm Thinking of Ending Things I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
My rating: 0 of 5 stars



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Review: I'm Thinking of Ending Things

I'm Thinking of Ending Things I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
My rating: 0 of 5 stars



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Review: Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories

Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories by Doug Murano
My rating: 0 of 5 stars



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Review: That Which Should Not Be

That Which Should Not Be That Which Should Not Be by Brett J. Talley
My rating: 0 of 5 stars



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Review: Haunted Cruise: The Shakedown

Haunted Cruise: The Shakedown Haunted Cruise: The Shakedown by Tanya R. Taylor
My rating: 0 of 5 stars



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Review: Kali on a Rampage

Kali on a Rampage Kali on a Rampage by R D Cervo
My rating: 0 of 5 stars



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Review: Morbid Metamorphosis

Morbid Metamorphosis Morbid Metamorphosis by Jo-Anne Russell
My rating: 0 of 5 stars



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Monday, June 27, 2016

Review: Siren

Siren Siren by Celina Grace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of SIREN by Celina Grace (Kate Redman Mystery #9)

I always enjoy this series because author Celina Grace has such a smooth, conversational, style, sort of in the cozy-mystery vein, yet with deeper understanding of character and some really ingenious plotting. In this newest, for example, a suspenseful opening leads to the discovery of the corpse of an upper-middle-class English entrepreneur, a man with a loving wife and three children and a sizable residence, in a compromising and very unpretty situation. While Kate Redman, her Detective Superintendent, and the others on the homicide team are tossed into the investigation, racking up long hours, viewing CCTV tapes, and conducting numerous interviews, all the team still have to maintain their personal lives and relationships, and their relations in terms of the team as an entirety and as individuals. So while this is a police procedural series, it is also much more, a series with real characters in real lives. I don't often say this, but I think the Kate Redman series would be an outstanding, long-running, television series if well casted.

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Review: Fire Spirit

Fire Spirit Fire Spirit by Graham Masterton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of FIRE SPIRIT by Graham Masterton

An acknowledged long-term master of the macabre delivers one of his absolute best in FIRE SPIRIT, an electrifying horror novel that will not just curl your hair, but ignite it. The world as you know it, the world of the living, is backdropped by Hell, which is a place of torment but not the destination only of the wicked. According to this storyline, Hell contains Nine Circles, which are populated by souls according to the nature of their demise. For example, the Ninth Circle contains burn deaths, the Eighth Circle drownings, and those are the two we are concerned with here.

Now a caution: if you are at all over-empathetic or don't like horror extremes, take a miss. FIRE SPIRIT is full-on gore, in detail, and contains multiple scenes of ugly, brutal violence, horrifying deaths, and abuse (adult and minor). If you've read Mr. Masterton before, you know that often he doesn't scruple with the violence and horror. I'd estimate that FIRE SPIRIT is every bit as extreme, perhaps more so, than MASTER OF LIES.

Barring that, this novel is so well written, the characters are so expanded (multiple characters--the secondary players are not just stage mannequins, but really developed), the metaphysics is so well explained, even to the very rational arson investigators, and the plot line is tautly developed. I was immediately caught up in the story and unable to set it aside. For fans of Graham Masterton and aficionados of well-played extreme horror, this is a win-win.

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Friday, June 24, 2016

Review: Fire Spirit

Fire Spirit Fire Spirit by Graham Masterton
My rating: 0 of 5 stars



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Review: Blister

Blister Blister by Jeff Strand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of BLISTER by Jeff Strand

This captivating horror tale is a finely-polished piece of writing, with endearing characters who unravel themselves and expose their motivations rather than waiting for the author to explain them and why they are as they are.

Jason Tray is an accomplished and popular cartoonist; well, his art is popular--his persona, not so much so. He has a wicked sense of humour, and not a lot of moral integrity, or moral fiber. Ironically, his attempt to actually act with high character, while vacationing at his agent's cabin in Georgia, sets off a chain reaction of ugly events and revelations.

I fully enjoyed this very fast-paced and gratifyingly twisted tale.

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Review: Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories

Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories by Doug Murano
My rating: 0 of 5 stars



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Review: Stolen Aaway










Stolen Aaway by Kristin Dearborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of Stolen Away by Kristin Dearborn

I've been reading Kristin Dearborn for a while, because once I started, I couldn't stop (go find out for yourself). STOLEN AWAY is a rocket into horror extreme, ground-mine-laden with demonic assault, killings, gore, and other factors of what lies underneath consensus reality. The demons in this talre have the ability common to Fae in legend: they are able to produce a glamour, or illusion, at will, and use it to great effect (only to their benefit, of course). They are also hateful, lustful, greedy, sadistic, and oh yes, completely self-centered and self-absorbed. You think you've encountered Narcissistic humans? [Well, of course you have.} Just wait till you read about this bunch (demons). The humans, on the other hand, actually manage character evolution. [Don't laugh, it's kind of rare in fiction, in my viewpoint.] i was surprised to find I quickly developed empathy for them, though many times I wanted to shake some sense into them.
I rate STOLEN AWAY at 18+ for profanity, sexuality, rape, assault, killing, and gore.
5 Stars

Disclaimer: I read an advanced digital copy provided by the author and publicist solely for review purposes, without exchange of remuneration. This review constitutes my honest and impartial opinion. 

  Synopsis for Stolen Away
Publication Date: June 24, 2016
PublisherRaw Dog Screaming Press
Publication Length: 220 pages

Trisha will admit she's made a few mistakes in her life but that checkered past is behind her. She loves her kids, even if it's tough being a single mom. But her loyalties are put to the test when her infant son disappears in the middle of the night, and his big sister says a monster took him.

Now Trisha has to face the full truth behind the one-night-stand that produced Brayden in all its scaly torridness – Brayden's father wasn't human and isn't interested in sharing custody. However, even though DEMON has pulled this stunt many times before, he made a mistake when he chose Trisha. The one thing she won't do is give up her son without a fight. Along with her ex-boyfriend, Joel, Trisha is dragged back into the seedy underworld in a desperate fight to reclaim her son, only this time she's got a lot more to lose.

Biography

If it screams, squelches, or bleeds, Kristin Dearborn has probably written about it. Kristin haswritten books such as Sacrifice Island (DarkFuse), Trinity (DarkFuse), and had fiction published in several magazines and anthologies. Stolen Away was recently a limited edition offered from Thunderstorm Books, which sold out.

She revels in comments like, “But you look so normal…how do you come up with that stuff?” A life-long New Englander, she aspires to the footsteps of the local masters, Messrs. King andLovecraft. When not writing or rotting her brain with cheesy horror flicks (preferably creature features!) she can be found scaling rock cliffs or zipping around Vermont on a motorcycle, or gallivanting around the globe. Kristin’s latest DarkFuse release is Woman in White.

Find more about Kristin online at kristindearborn.com or Facebook.


Praise for Kristin Dearbon

“Horror born straight from a nor’easter, Dearborn’s Woman in White is a great read for a winter night—with a monster I’ll never forget.” —Christopher Irvin, author of Federales and Burn Cards

“Kristin Dearborn’s Woman in White is a rip-roaring monster tale with sharp-eyed characterization and something to say about the power dynamics between men and woman. Thought-provoking and entertaining as hell!” —Tim Waggoner, author of Eat the Night

“Great stuff! Suspenseful, quickly paced, unpredictable and wonderfully evil tale. Kristin Dearborn’s best yet!” —Jeff Strand, author of Pressure

“Dearborn has a wonderful sense of the macabre, along with the ability to balance the spookier aspects of her work with well-rendered, solid characterizations…Sacrifice Island is a blazing fast read, with engaging characters and a compelling narrative.” —The Maine Edge

Sacrifice Island is a fresh and interesting take on a tried and true horror setup.” —Examiner

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Want to Feature Kristin Dearborn?

If you would like a copy of the book for review or to conduct an interview with Kristin Dearborn, please contact Erin Al-Mehairi, Publicist, at Hook of a Book Media:hookofabook@hotmail.com.

 



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Sunday, June 19, 2016

Review: Cold Sanctuary

Cold Sanctuary Cold Sanctuary by Anthony M. Strong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review of COLD SANCTUARY by Anthony M. Strong
(John Decker #2)

Wow!! I loved the first book in this series, WHAT VENGENANCE COMES, but I love this one even more! Might be because this is set in Alaska, not Louisiana, and focuses on biohazards and genetic engineering instead of curses and Loup Garou, but it was a very rapid one-sitting, nonstop reading experience with lots of excitement, adventure, and suspense. Mr. Strong has a talented way with a tale, and while allowing the local populace and perhaps some of his readers to suspect a possible mythological creature come to life, instead he points us in the direction of Dr. Frankenstein, reenacted as it were. I'm not sure I want to fall asleep after reading COLD SANCTUARY, but I'm very glad I read it. My imagination has been totally ignited.

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