This is my second time reading a book from this author, and I have to say his writing is exceptional. This novella is a 50/50 mix of horror and scienceThis is my second time reading a book from this author, and I have to say his writing is exceptional. This novella is a 50/50 mix of horror and science fiction set in an asylum unlike any you have known, it's on the moon and it's safe to say that things aren't as they initially seem. As far as novellas go, this is a top-drawer effort. It has it all, a great storyline, amazingly well-drawn characters, with plenty of mystery and action thrown in for good measure. I cannot wait for the next book in the series. Exceptional and highly recommended!...more
An absolute juggernaut of a slasher, aka the slashers bible! I've spent the 24 hours since finishing reading this book wonder how the hell I can reviewAn absolute juggernaut of a slasher, aka the slashers bible! I've spent the 24 hours since finishing reading this book wonder how the hell I can review this and truly do it justice? The simple answer is that I can't do it justice at all, but I'll still share a few words regardless.
This is a slasher with a difference, yes there is pretty of blood and gore as you'd expect but the real standout feature of this novel is the relationship between Tolly (the main character) and his best friend, Amber. Stephen Graham Jones managed to write such realistic, relatable and authentic interaction between the two, it drove the story onwards and pulled me deeper into the narrative. I could whole heartedly relate to these characters and put myself in their shoes. In fact, this is why I'm having such a hard time writing this review, I'm in absolute awe. Maybe in time I'll add more but right now I don't want to, I don't want to leave any kind of spoilers or lead anyone in any way.
I'd recommend this to anyone and especially to those who enjoyed Billy Summers, The Angel Lake trilogy or even The Colorado Kid. Book of the year so far, Stephen Graham Jones at the very top of his game.
P.s, I'll probably add to this soon and I so wish I'd taken notes as I read. Then maybe my thoughts would be more focused....more
A good old fashioned slasher with a few modern twists. I picked this book up not knowing what to expect and luckily it ticked a fair few of the boxes wA good old fashioned slasher with a few modern twists. I picked this book up not knowing what to expect and luckily it ticked a fair few of the boxes which I would call a necessity for a good compelling read, it even ticked a few I never new existed too. Following the well trodden cliche of a group gather at a summer camp, this story delves deeply into the lives of a extremely varied collection of characters, each having fallen foul of cancel culture. All in an effort to rejuvenate or cleanse themselves of these modern issues. That's exactly where this tale starts to become darker, more foreboding, menacing as events unravell.
The author did a marvelous job of covering lgbtq issues but without making it become overbaring and undermining the narrative. This was a breath of fresh air for me, as many stories seem to get bogged down with similar topics lately. Overall this was a fun, exciting read and one that is well worth checking out....more
This was a fun well written psycological thriller which initially focuses on you young mother to be and a deal she makes with hopes of making a betterThis was a fun well written psycological thriller which initially focuses on you young mother to be and a deal she makes with hopes of making a better life. With plenty going on throughout, Tamar manages to create many vivid and memorable moments as this story weaves it's way to the conclusion. Ultimately I gave this three stars due to developing a strong dislike for the main character and on occasions finding it difficult to truly understand what was going on. With that said ill be sure to check out some more of the authors work in the future....more
My words cannot express how great this book was. I wish I had the flair and eloquence Ronald Mafli displaAn astonishing read from the very first page.
My words cannot express how great this book was. I wish I had the flair and eloquence Ronald Mafli displays within these pages, to then be able to do this book justice in my review. What I will say is that if you want an intense, well drawn supernatural story to read then this is for you. Superb!!
More to come once I manage to fully process my thoughts on this excellent book....more
A fun and fast paced creature feature. I'm a huge fan of this sub genre and thoroughly this quick read. Don't get me wrong, this story wasn't genre defA fun and fast paced creature feature. I'm a huge fan of this sub genre and thoroughly this quick read. Don't get me wrong, this story wasn't genre defining or setting any new trends, but its still an enjoyable read....more
A compelling, emotional, and exceptional supernatural thriller. 4.5⭐️ rounded up.
This was a delicious and gripping read-through and through. I went intA compelling, emotional, and exceptional supernatural thriller. 4.5⭐️ rounded up.
This was a delicious and gripping read-through and through. I went into this with no knowledge of the plot or even read anything by Simone St James. I love starting a book with no real knowledge of its plot and with zero expectations. St. James' is now high on my list of authors I want to read. Somehow she managed to make this book engaging from early on, drip-feeding information, with a nice blend of action and suspense. Giving each character plenty of body and backstory without slowing or breaking the flow of the narrative. I cared for the characters, which is huge for me. I felt like I was part of the story, I felt each character's emotions and could understand their motives or motivations.
I'd recommend this novel to almost anyone and would urge them to go in open-minded. Exceptional storytelling!...more
This was my first time reading any of Samuel Bjork's work and what a pleasant experience it turned out to be. I have not read a huge number of books frThis was my first time reading any of Samuel Bjork's work and what a pleasant experience it turned out to be. I have not read a huge number of books from the crime/thriller genres of late, so this was like a breath of fresh air. The pacing was of a fast nature which helped with the whole experience, rather than getting bogged down in minute detail like many novels of this type. All of the characters were well drawn and felt like they were grounded in reality. The same can also be said for the story as a whole. The only negative I can point out was a lack of detail and explanation regarding the killers background and motivations.
Overall I would recommend this to anyone who wants a slightly faster-paced crime novel.
I'll certainly be checking out the rest of this series over the next few months....more
This book from Clay McLeod Chapman was not what I expected. It starts with the feel of a Southern murder mystery and as the plot unravels, so did my prThis book from Clay McLeod Chapman was not what I expected. It starts with the feel of a Southern murder mystery and as the plot unravels, so did my preconceptions of where this novel was heading. Think murder mystery, creature feature, psychological horror and more, then you might have a slight idea of what this book contains. Clay McLeod Chapman's writing spirited me away into this book's world, I could smell the river and feel the intense heat. His writing is amazing and left me wanting to read a few more pages during every sitting. I can say the same for the characters and the ease with which the writing pulled me into their thoughts and stories. I'm not one for detailing the plot in my reviews, so you'll just have to read this to find out. What I can tell you is that this was an astounding read and one which I would highly recommend....more
On being accepted to read this novel by Ally Wilkes I was full of excitement, sadly it did not quite fulfil my expectations
This was an exceptionally On being accepted to read this novel by Ally Wilkes I was full of excitement, sadly it did not quite fulfil my expectations
This was an exceptionally well-written story and felt entirely authentic to its time period but for me was too slow paced and I had issues with keeping track of the events due maybe to it being a period piece. On the other hand there were some extremely tense moments during the story and it was by no means a terrible read. No doubt an author to watch out for but this book simply wasn't to my taste....more
Jo Nesbo is mainly known for his Scandi Noir novels, namely the Harry Hole series. Here he flips the script and gives us a nicely crafted slice of horJo Nesbo is mainly known for his Scandi Noir novels, namely the Harry Hole series. Here he flips the script and gives us a nicely crafted slice of horror. I want to avoid going into plot details here, it's best to go in as a blank slate. All in all, I loved this book, it twists and turns throughout. Once you think it's heading in a certain direction, Nesbo then flips things 180° and then back again. In summary, this is a thought-provoking masterclass of horror and I'm hoping there will be more to come on the same lines from this author. Highly recommended!...more
This turned out to be a solid fantasy horror story which had me intrigued from the very start. Kiersten White managed to create an off the wall theme This turned out to be a solid fantasy horror story which had me intrigued from the very start. Kiersten White managed to create an off the wall theme which was well developed and essentially had its feet planted firmly within the real world with themes many will be able to relate to or recognise. We all have our own memories of kids tv from our youth, some which we look back on with fondness and some not so much, but what if those memories were tainted or distorted by a rose tinted lens? If you want to read a unique and at times mind bending tale, then this might be the one for you....more
The New Bad Thing” is a novel that offers a fresh perspective on the espionage genre. The protagonist, Teagan, is a well-written and realistic charactThe New Bad Thing” is a novel that offers a fresh perspective on the espionage genre. The protagonist, Teagan, is a well-written and realistic character that I could relate to. Her personal triumphs were particularly meaningful to me, given the struggles she faced. I won’t spoil the plot, but I can say that it is fast-paced and engaging, with action scenes that read like a movie. Michael Ebner is an exceptional author, and I’m eagerly anticipating the next book in the series....more
This is a difficult review to write, predominantly because I have no idea how to categorise this novel. Ultimately that doesn't matter but as a specieThis is a difficult review to write, predominantly because I have no idea how to categorise this novel. Ultimately that doesn't matter but as a species we seem to want everything neatly tucked away in its place. Regardless of that issue, this was one hell of a book. I'll be honest, I was thinking maybe this would be a rip-roaring action packed horror. It isn't, although it does have those elements in places. What drives this novel along is the tales of friendship, love and everything else human. Lindqvist delivers an amazingly detailed and beautifully written book, which shows us both the good and bad sides of humankind. A sterling piece of work, that's what it is....more
I'm a big fan of Paul Tremblay's work and I was excited to read his latest collection of short stories, The Beast You Are. I was impressed by the variI'm a big fan of Paul Tremblay's work and I was excited to read his latest collection of short stories, The Beast You Are. I was impressed by the variety and creativity of his horror stories, which range from psychological to supernatural to cosmic. He also brings back some familiar characters from his previous books, like Karen Brissette, Merry, and Marjorie, but in different contexts and perspectives. My favourite story in the collection was "I Know You Were There", which was a haunting and emotional tale of grief and guilt. It gave me chills and made me look over my shoulder.
Of course, not every story in the collection was a hit for me. Some of them felt too short or too vague to have a lasting impact. I also felt that the collection lacked a clear theme or connection between the stories. It seemed more like a random assortment of Tremblay's works than a curated selection. However, if you're a fan of Paul Tremblay's novels or if you enjoy horror stories in general, I'd recommend giving The Beast You Are a chance. You'll probably find something to appreciate and enjoy in this collection....more
I'm a huge fan of Ronald Malfi and his amazing horror stories, so I was thrilled to get my hands on his latest collection, They Lurk. However, I have I'm a huge fan of Ronald Malfi and his amazing horror stories, so I was thrilled to get my hands on his latest collection, They Lurk. However, I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed by some of the stories in this book. Don't get me wrong, this is still a solid collection of creepy tales, but it didn't blow me away like his previous one did. The stories that really stood out for me were Skullbelly and They Lurk, which were both terrifying and original. I learned from the afterword that these stories were written earlier in his career, which might explain why they felt less polished and impactful than his more recent work. Overall, this was an enjoyable read, but not his best work in my opinion. ...more
I had high expectations for this book, but it didn't quite meet them. The stories were interesting on their own, but I wish they had more connection tI had high expectations for this book, but it didn't quite meet them. The stories were interesting on their own, but I wish they had more connection throughout the book. It was hard to keep track of them and switch between them. I also wanted to know more about the story and the characters. They felt underdeveloped and the plot was too vague. I had mixed feelings about Eric LaRocca's other books, so I'm not giving up on them yet. Maybe this one just wasn't for me....more
This book contains a series of short stories revealing human nature's dark and twisted aspects. Some of them lean more toward sci-fi than horror, but This book contains a series of short stories revealing human nature's dark and twisted aspects. Some of them lean more toward sci-fi than horror, but they all have a creepy and unsettling impact on the reader. They are similar to the episodes of Black Mirror, where technology and society create disturbing situations that test our morals and values. The stories are not bloody or extreme, but they still evoke a sense of horror and fear. I liked some of the stories more than others, but overall I found the book to be captivating and interesting. The writing style is not very refined, but it fits the mood and setting of the stories. Overall an enjoyable collection of stories with a few standout pieces....more
I loved this book so much that I couldn't put it down. The People Watcher by Sam Lloyd is a brilliant and twisty slow-burning thriller that kept me guI loved this book so much that I couldn't put it down. The People Watcher by Sam Lloyd is a brilliant and twisty slow-burning thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. The author did a great job of creating a complex and realistic character in Keira, who is obsessed with watching other people's lives through her binoculars. She is not a typical heroine, but a flawed and troubled person who makes some questionable choices. The plot was well-paced and full of surprises, and the writing was engaging and immersive. The author also used some clever techniques to make the reader question what they see and who they believe. This was one of the best thrillers I've read in some time and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good psychological suspense novel.
Thanks to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for supplying an ARC copy of this publication....more
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