Fans of Iain Reid’s first novel I’m Thinking of Ending Things already want this book. They’re looking for more of what he delivered in his debut novel — that “unique, slightly off-kilter, unsettling prose that grabs you and pulls you into the story until it’s over” kind of thing. Rest assured, he’s done it again.
I don’t want to say that Iain Reid is ruining me for other books, but he is — there, I said it. I’ll try to explain what he does so well: Reid’s narrative is simultaneously sophisticated and casual. It lives in the space between challenging and accessible. I recently tweeted that reading this book felt like eating exotic foods where the foreign flavor explosions have me guessing at the ingredients; my mind in a constant state of exploration — new and exciting but also exactly what I want. How does a writer do this?
Thanks to Reid, I’m also a junkie for short chapters — I wish all books were formatted as such. The mystery of this story is presented immediately. Readers will start gathering questions from page one and then you will carry these with you for the rest of the book.
Junior and Henrietta live in a quaint farmhouse in isolation. A stranger shows up with perplexing news. The duration of the story is the unraveling of the characters as they are forced into some unexpected circumstances. The tension and that initial mystery buzz in your mind, slow and steady at first and then later, aggressively. There are a few recognizable moments where my running theory about the story was stripped away with just a sentence. I built new theories and those too were peeled back, revealing a different idea.
My favorite thing about Iain’s work in this story is also my favorite thing about his previous novel — these characters, their relationship and who they are as people is handcrafted with details so intimate, they feel eerily familiar. I found myself in these pages a few times in Hen’s thoughtlife or in Junior’s frustration. Some scenes I read to my husband because Reid was so mindful of a real couple — the way people are behind closed doors. I can’t help but wonder if Reid is leaving everything on these pages, the story feels so exposed, vulnerable and personal.
When the end finally comes, it’s like falling through the floor. The bottom just drops out and now I have a serious book hangover and a creeping need for another Iain Reid novel. This is a book I’ll read again while I wait for his next one. ...more
This review first was published on Cemetery Dance Online August 15th, 2018 https://www.cemeterydance.com/extras/... I’ve been saying a different versionThis review first was published on Cemetery Dance Online August 15th, 2018 https://www.cemeterydance.com/extras/... I’ve been saying a different version of the same thing all year but I’ll say it in a unique way for Cemetery Dance:
Social media is responsible for introducing me to a much larger selection of books to read in my favorite genre of horror. Way back when, whatever my mom added to her shelves was what was accessible to me. As I began to shop for books on my own, I was only getting whatever was available at the bookstore, library or thrift stores.
In other words: Traditionally published books.
These days, I’m like a child set loose in a candy store! So many books, so little time! A book that came into view at the beginning of summer is this self-published collection of four short stories called Bones by Andrew Cull.
As far as introductions go, this is the best possible first impression an author can make. It was almost as if Cull was anticipating my own, personal checklist of things I’m looking for in quality horror, intentionally ticking all the boxes. Since this is a debut collection, I’ll go ahead and identify right now that Andrew Cull’s wheelhouse is character-driven stories with “knock-your-socks-off” opening lines. Every single story punched you square between the eyes with the first sentence and then proceeded to build out a flesh-and-blood character or two that you could really invest in emotionally. This is the best kind of way to tell scary stories, because a talented author can pull at your heartstrings, distracting you from the horror until it bites you from behind. I was completely captivated by all four stories — each one unique in its subject material but also similar in atmospheric tension and style.
There were some genuinely terrifying, standout scenes that I of course would never spoil for future readers. But I will say, the scariest story for me was “Hope and Walker.” It was unsettling and disturbing in ways that I won’t likely forget and will forever be recommending. But I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite, since I loved them all for different reasons.
I can’t wait to see a full novel from Andrew Cull sooner rather than later. I’ll be the first to buy it!...more
Review originally published on Cemetery Dance Extras Oct. 24th, 2018
When a novella starts off with a line like, “Turn left at the screaming woman withReview originally published on Cemetery Dance Extras Oct. 24th, 2018
When a novella starts off with a line like, “Turn left at the screaming woman with a collapsing face,” I’m going to sit up a little straighter in my chair and pay close attention. And that was my reading posture during the duration of time it took me to get to the one hundredth page. Focused.
Captivated.
This story is not for the lazy reader, and I don’t mean that it’s too intellectual or complicated, I just mean that this was new territory, and I needed to pay attention. Almost immediately, I was immersed in the rich, gothic atmosphere. The protagonist, a governess named Ms. Valdez, winds her way through a disturbing hedge maze to find herself on the steps of the Stockton House — the destination of her newly acquired job.
Once Ms. Valdez enters the premises, the reader is taken on a very strange, dreamlike (nightmarish) journey that I can only compare to a Guillermo del Toro-esque adult version of Alice in Wonderland.
The reader is forced to either enjoy the ride, or question everything. My recommendation, if you want to enjoy the book, is to just be a willing spectator to Shipp’s imaginative prose. Suspension of reality is required.
Shipp definitely takes some risks with the story that I’m sure some readers will feel are a little jarring. One minute you’re reading about a stained glass window depicting a parade of headless humans carrying their own skulls, and the next minute a character is marveling at the beauty of a colorful butterfly or randomly listening to the theme song of Who’s the Boss. I was tempted to be put off by it, but the writing is so compelling and Jeremy C. Shipp is so talented, I found myself easily ignoring my own pestering questions.
My only real complaint is with the ending — I’m not really sure if that was the resolution the author was heading towards all along; it felt a little hurried or unfocused in comparison to the micro-precision intentionality of the rest of the book. But despite that small issue, my last thought as I closed the book and stared at the beautiful cover one more time was, “I cannot wait to read another story by this author.” Lucky me, Bedfellow, which comes out in November, is waiting for me on my nightstand....more
Review originally posted on Cemetery Dance Extras, Oct. 2nd, 2018
Kill Hill Carnage is the quintessential Halloween book for any seasoned horror fan orReview originally posted on Cemetery Dance Extras, Oct. 2nd, 2018
Kill Hill Carnage is the quintessential Halloween book for any seasoned horror fan or avid reader looking to make an October TBR (to be read) list. The story covers a lot of ground for the genre; easily shelved under several horror sub-genres, which makes it appealing for a wide audience. There’s a little bit of everything here: Teen Drama, Creature Feature, Disaster Horror and Comedy Horror.
The raucous volume of the sex and violence immediately upon opening the book definitely got my attention but also cooled my blood a little because teen-scream-queen stories tend to skim the surface, relying too heavily on shock and cheap thrills to keep readers interested.
However, Meyer impressed me earlier this year with his book Switch House, so I kept turning the pages to see how Meyer was going to to turn the tables on me and get me invested. I could have guessed it would be through cleverly written dialog, well developed characters and an intricate plot weaving together several different narratives.
My favorite narrative was the present day drama of a group of “just out of high school” college age kids venturing out to explore the scene of Christian Camp massacre that happened thirty years prior. I thought the twenty-something year olds would be stereotypical meat puppets for the grindhouse horror, but Meyer goes a little deeper and fleshes out their thoughts, feelings and relationships. This emotional investment on my end proved to up the ante as the story started sprinting towards its violent conclusion.
Another engaging narrative was the story in the story involving the Christian Camp back in the 1990s, the “Interlude” chapters. I loved these! My hope is that Tim Meyer could develop a Kill Hill series with maybe a prequel, developing the Camp story further and then a sequel to Kill Hill Carnage! I’m getting excited just thinking about all the directions Meyer could take with this and he definitely left the door open! My suggestion is for horror fans to get in on this potential franchise now instead of later....more
Originally published at Cemetery Dance on March 20th, 2019 Stephen Graham Jones posted on social media a few times about a book called In the Valley ofOriginally published at Cemetery Dance on March 20th, 2019 Stephen Graham Jones posted on social media a few times about a book called In the Valley of the Sun and I took note, but it wasn’t until he posted the book’s cover that I got excited. The cover boasts a human skull bleeding from the eye sockets. It’s wearing a cowboy hat and vampire incisors are clearly visible.
Interesting.
A blurb by Dr. Jones across the top reads, “I burned through this.It’s got teeth on every page.” I wondered, “Is this a vampire book? God, I hope this is a vampire book.” As soon as it showed up in my mailbox, I knew I’d be up in its pages and sure enough, just a week or so later, here I am writing this review.
Let me set this up for you a little bit. In the Valley of the Sun is Andy Davidson’s debut novel. It was released in 2017. It crawled on its belly, undetected in my tiny world of horror, but it made a huge impression on the HWA and it was a finalist for the Bram Stoker award recognizing Superior Achievement in a First Novel.
Let me see if I can unpack what it is about this book that is so deserving of such a fine nomination. First, Andy Davidson has that natural “it factor” when it comes to storytelling. For me, the narrative reads like the confident, assured voice of a seasoned veteran but with all the originality, nuances and brilliance of a prodigy.
I’ve never read anything quite its equal. I’ve seen the comparisons to Cormac McCarthy and Anne Rice and sure, I can see that, but Andy is totally in his own lane. This was new territory in horror fiction and it was incredibly exciting to read and enjoy.
The story is a fresh take on vampire lore set in the arid, dusty backroads of Texas. Travis Stillwell is a mysterious young man who is seriously caught up in some bad business. He has a Texas Ranger hunting him down, which I wish I could say is the worst thing hunting him; unfortunately, something far more dangerous has an eye on him as well.
Aimlessly wandering, his travels take him to a barely operating motel run by Annabelle and her young son, Sandy. Something follows him there.
Annabelle is now a favorite female protagonist. I immediately fell in love with her quiet spirit and her fierce love for her son. She made so many brave choices. I haven’t invested in a character like I did with her in a long, long time. Truly a new favorite.
This story is dark. Pitch-black. It’s one of those tales that reaches far back enough into everyone’s past that almost nobody is a villain here—and yet, there are villainous acts. There is wickedness. Blood is shed. There are scenes so terrifying, I shudder to think that there would ever be a cinematic adaptation…but I long for one, too.
There’s enough meat on the bones of this story to satisfy any fan of any genre. This isn’t just appealing for horror fans—this book would appeal to readers who love the chase between detective and fugitive; the chase between a man and a woman; and, especially, the chase between good and evil.
I could have read this book for hundreds more pages and I know I’ll read it again someday. One of my new favorites. Highly recommend....more
Josh Malerman’s newest book draws its title from the fictional, town in Michigan called, Goblin. Standing in the tradition of other odd spots on the mJosh Malerman’s newest book draws its title from the fictional, town in Michigan called, Goblin. Standing in the tradition of other odd spots on the map, Goblin is a weird, spooky place to live much like Castle Rock, Derry, Crystal Lake, Silent Hill, and Twin Peaks.
The book is comprised of six interconnected novellas that take place in Goblin. This collection of sorts could not be more perfectly timed. After the success of Bird Box and the Netflix adaptation starring Sandra Bullock, Malerman released a succession of full-length novels. Each book is an example of Malerman striking out into a new sub-genre of horror. Goblin, as a whole, showcases the full gamut of Malerman’s skill set as a writer.
The prologue introduces us to a greasy-haired character named Tom who is told he must make a fast delivery to Goblin. Tom knows of the town (even mentions Blackwater River which made this reader think of Michael McDowell) and is a little reluctant to make the trip but ultimately relents. His boss gives a cryptic farewell, “Make sure you follow the directions.”
The pages fly. Malerman is a seasoned storyteller and he knows what his fans show up for. Some of the tales are not quite as shiny as some of the others. But the first story “A MAN IN SLICES” sets the stage perfectly. A story about friendship, love, and sacrifice...of parts. “KAMP” reminded me so much of one of my favorite episodes of Fairytale Theater, THE BOY WHO LEFT HOME TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE SHIVERS. Walter Kamp is a fearful, quirky man afraid of fear itself. The story transitions from a ghost story into folk horror in a manner of minutes. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUNTER!” A man who is so obsessed with big game hunting his friends nicknamed him Hunter. It’s always so much fun to read about protagonists you love to hate. But actually didn’t fully understand the ending--but that’s okay, the journey getting there was entertaining. “PRESTO” is the story of a magician and the difference between illusion and “that other magic”. This one was dark and relentless. “A MIX UP AT THE ZOO” is what happens when co-workers switch jobs. One guy is tired of cleaning up after the crowds and the other one is tired of shoveling animal shit. The reader begins to question the sanity of the man called Dirk. Is he alright in the head or is something dark and sinister at work in the zoo? “THE HEDGES” is my favorite story. One of Goblin’s infamous residents, Wayne Sherman designed a hedge maze lovingly called, The Hedges. Nobody has the stamina to solve the maze, something Wayne takes great pride in until one day-an unlikely person declares that the maze was easy.
After the stories, like a return trip home, readers come to the epilogue and everything comes full circle. I’m a fan....more
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