I don't want to say that I was in a reading slump but I was having trouble finding something I could get lost in--everything I was picking up felt likI don't want to say that I was in a reading slump but I was having trouble finding something I could get lost in--everything I was picking up felt like I had to work too hard to get invested. I was DNFing a lot and didn't have a strong sense of what I was in the mood for. For my birthday, @spookishmommy took me book shopping and this is one I picked out because of her recommendation and because I love thrillers. I'll never stop loving thrillers. Basically, I'm kind of a dummy when it comes to reading a complicated, intricately plotted thriller with lots of twists and turns-I never figure things out or see things coming so I have a lot of fun reading these kinds of books. . This one is so freakin' good. Hillier does a great job developing characters and a strong sense of what they look like and how they interact with each other. The title, LITTLE SECRETS is perfect because it speaks to all the little "white lies" people tell themselves and others. . Marin, the main protagonist, felt natural to me and as soon as she was described as looking like Selma Hayek, that's who she became in my head. In fact, I had movie stars picked out for all the characters. The storyline is SO FUCKING COMPELLING. Basically, a high-profile couple is at Pike's Place here in Seattle when their 4-year-old child is taken. They both have different ways of dealing with their loss and those "ways" are kept secret from each other-but secrets have a way of coming to light and that's the fun part of this book. Also, living here in the PNW, it was extra fun to know all the cities and small towns mentioned. I could not put it down. Great recommendation, Ashley! I will buy more from Hillier for sure....more
I decided to request Motherthing on NetGalley for two reasons: 1) That cover 2) The synopsis And then, in a very un-Sadie-like manner, I actually jumped right into it. I never, I mean, never get approved for a NetGalley book and immediately read it. There was just something so utterly magnetic about this book’s potential. Allow me to set this book up for you with no spoilers and the right expectations. The narrator, Abigail Lamb “Abby,” is a caregiver at a nursing home. She’s good at her job; loves the elderly patients in her care. She has also just become a live-in caregiver for her ailing mother-in-law, Laura. Abby and Ralph have just made the recent transition of moving into Ralph’s mother’s home so it’s still a bit fresh and awkward especially because Laura has an unhealthy attachment to her son causing Abby to feel like an outsider. Tragedy strikes and Abby finds herself fighting for her husband’s mental health; maybe even his life. I found Ainslie Hogarth’s storytelling voice compatible and comfortable. I slipped into my favorite “reading zone” where I am at peak levels of entertainment-the words on the page translating those visuals into my mind like a little movie. And the humor! My goodness, this book is hilarious. Plenty of snarky, razor-sharp wit, and a way of using humor to diffuse hurt feelings. The storyline is a bit of a slow burn enticing readers to invest in Abby and Ralph upfront before circumstances beyond their control peel back to reveal all the ways their marriage is vulnerable; unstable. It’s deeply unsettling. A strong sense of growing tension and impending dread nips at the reader’s heels as the story progresses. Things get bleak! As Ralph begins to descend into a grief-induced depression, things definitely take a dark turn. Without going too deep into my own, personal experience, I do feel it’s appropriate to say that I felt a kinship with the protagonist. I could relate having gone through similar situations. And given what I already know about the difficulties many women have maintaining healthy boundaries with their mothers or mothers-in-law, I’m sure this book is going to find its audience. Quirky, unexpected, and charming, Motherthing uses all the right ingredients combined in equal measure to ensure a delicious experience. Highly recommend....more
Sam Gregory is an insurance investigator prone to his vices and wise guy remarks. He is sent to a posh boarding school located on an island to inquire about a stolen, seemingly important, book. Sam makes his acquaintance with the school’s faculty and students, interviewing them about the book and diving deeper and deeper into the mystery surrounding its origins. Along the way, he bumps into a young journalist who has been tracking Sam’s every move. Stephen Llyod’s writing style is accessible. Readers will find it easy to engage; sprinting toward the halfway point in no time at all. The words come together like a little movie for the mind–not surprising since Lloyd writes for television; effortlessly bringing that casual, audience engagement to his storytelling. Marketing for the book included a read-alike for fans of Joe Hill and Jim Butcher but that is pretty misleading. This book lands squarely in the hands of a much younger readership. A better comparison would be dark academia, like The Umbrella Academy mashed with Only Murders in the Building. Sam Gregory’s salty personality and witty banter with literally everyone he meets is clever and entertaining. But the scenes read like thirty-five minute episodes for network television. The young characters feel like child actors delivering rehearsed lines delivered just right to land the punch and Sam, the grizzled war veteran is too on the nose. Nobody seems grounded in the story, just some cliched versions of people, like props, positioned throughout the story to contribute their piece before exiting stage right. All of this to say the result is a lack of authenticity preventing readers from full investment beyond basic curiosity. Friend of the Devil is a book written to be adapted. It doesn’t add anything unique to the genre of supernatural suspense or leave a memorable, lasting impact on readers. Maybe it will be a great TV show....more
This is Samantha Kolesnik’s sophomore novella following her big 2020 hit, True Crime. Because of the success of True Crime and the nature of Kolesnik’s storytelling, Waif carries the burden of big expectations. Sometimes readers enjoy a debut so much, they unintentionally bring that loyalty into the second effort as a demand for more of the same. Thankfully, Samantha Kolesnik elected to prove her aptitude for versatility. Waif is the story of a woman named Angela who has come to the end of her rope. After shedding tears in her parked car, she enters a grocery store and has an encounter with a stranger about marshmallows. This brief exchange is the catalyst for a whole series of events that ultimately changes Angela’s life. Kolesnik expertly packs this slim offering with thought provoking insight into the mind of a woman pushed to her breaking point. Angela’s journey is messy and reckless. She makes contradictory decisions that fly in the face of what we, the audience in her head, know is self-destructive or unhealthy. But ultimately, it’s Angela’s path. The reader is an observer to the pull of obsession, toxicity in relationships, abuse, sexual awakening, and the insatiable hunger for love and acceptance. Angela has long since been deprived and feels undeserving; neglected. The horror is in how common Angela’s situation really is. The way the story explodes into utter chaos and depravity is obviously not an everyday kind of tale, but the way people’s lives can spiral out of control due to the loss of self, isn’t. A cautionary tale to those who have traded their identity for a life lived outside of who they are. It’s a scary feeling to realize a chain of mistakes can wind up binding you to unhappiness but this story, Waif, explores the idea that freedom can arise from unlikely situations or opportunities that can only be found if one is desperate enough to really look. It’s a powerfully feminine experience Kolesnik gives with Waif. Don’t miss it....more
In the last two or three years, just under the surface of the modern horror fiction scene is a low-level buzz that grows stronger and stronger each day. It’s very exciting to both observe the way the buzz is shaping the industry and actively BE THE BUZZ. A very exciting time for genre buffs. New, powerful voices are on the rise telling unique stories their way and for the first time, in a long time, the pathways to the top seem free of obstacles, gatekeepers, and road blocks. Kristi DeMeester is a storyteller I have long admired. Her novel, Beneath, was the first indie horror book I ever requested for review (thank you Word Horde!). After reading, I immediately dove into her short story collection, Everything That’s Underneath and that was it for me; a die-hard DeMeester fan for life. Now here we are with Such A Pretty Smile. Let me set some early expectations, unpack my reading experience, and close with an invitation. DeMeester’s storytelling is ferociously and unashamedly feminine. She explores themes of mother/daughter relationships, sexuality, body image, gender norms and biases, and the way society/culture inform or complicate/frustrate the female experience. Showing up to read Such A Pretty Smile is to expect these themes. A small town is rocked when a missing girl is found murdered; her body ravaged. A local artist, Caroline Sawyer is triggered by these new reports–eerily similar to trauma she experienced in her past. Caroline’s daughter, Lilah, is going through a volatile season of adolescence, has a crush on a girl at school, and is troubled by strange visions. The narrative follows both Caroline’s present-day situation and flashes back to 2004 as well as Lilah’s present day POV. The overall atmosphere of this story is somewhere between the thick tension and suspense of an intricately plotted crime thriller and the figurative, often ambiguous work of speculative horror fiction. The mash-up can be frustrating at times as there is a real desire for concrete answers or explanations but Demeester unapologetically leaves things for the reader to sort out. The pacing is a bit troublesome as well, skating along fluidly and quickly at first but then tapering off toward the middle with a few full stops and starts before picking up again for the climax/ending. Those issues aside, I am over-the-moon ecstatic to read horror that answers the call for more stories from a woman’s perspective and detailing the issues we face, the predatory world we exist in, and the uniquely feminine horrors we go through. I’m here for any and all of it. I recommend this book to readers also looking to quench that fire within them–drink long and deeply from the wellspring DeMeester offers here. It’s very satisfying....more
(I don't use stars to rate books unless I feel that a book is worthy of special honor) This review was originally published at Mystery & Suspense Magaz(I don't use stars to rate books unless I feel that a book is worthy of special honor) This review was originally published at Mystery & Suspense Magazine: https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...
My first encounter with a story by A. C. Wise was her short story, Final Girl Theory, which I listened to at Pseudopod. You can listen to it yourself. And I shared my experience here. I mentioned in the review that I chose to listen to the story in order to make an informed choice on buying The Ghost Sequences. And now here we are, based on the way A. C. Wise blew my mind with Final Girl Theory, I’m impressing upon readers that this collection of short stories delivers on exactly what I showed up desiring. More of that lush, magnetic, haunting prose and found-footage tropes. I decided to highlight a few of my favorites which just so happen to be the first several stories and then a few more bangers toward the end.
How The Trick is Done– a tale about a charming, charismatic magician capable of luring people to himself in a wildly self-serving, narcissistic way. The story is told from the point of view of those he leaves in his wake. The prose is lucious; the narrative vulnerable, and tragic. A haunting story exploring how psychologically damaging love can be in the hands of a sociopath.
The Stories We Tell About Ghosts– This is hands down one of my all-time favorite short stories. Child protagonists, this whole “found-footage” vibe, and ghosts. It’s also fucking scary. This story is available in audio at Pseudopod and free to read at Nightmare Magazine. Just do it. Experience this one for yourself–this is what a good ghost story feels like.
The Last Sailing of the “Henry Charles Morgan” in Six Pieces of Scrimshaw– Warning: A mind-blower. This is one of the most original stories I’ve ever read. Another “found footage” vibe–the narrator is describing artwork depicting the fate of a ship at sea and its crew. A strange creature depicted in the artwork is shown in various stages of an event that ultimately leads to a startling conclusion.
Harvest Song, Gathering Song– This story has a very Vandermeer(ish) subject but told with a more Michael Wehunt style–actually reminded me quite a bit of Wehunt’s, October Film Haunt: Under the House it also reminded me of this story told by Sarah Read in Out of Water involving an archeologist that discovers an ancient jar. In any event, this tale follows a secret military operation to extract a substance in an ice cave that has a unique effect on humans if they consume it. That’s all I’m going to say about that. Has a very cosmic, elder-god feeling of powerlessness; vastation. The act of “ripping off the top of your skull and stretching your brain out way beyond its limitations that makes you feel cavernous and hollow but at the same time full to exploding?” That’s as close as I can come to detailing my experience with this one. *Crossing– A beautiful, haunting love story spanning over many years. A young woman discovers a passion for swimming which only intensifies after she encounters a water-dwelling creature. They develop an attraction, evolving into a relationship that becomes complicated. This story is beautiful, alluring, and haunting. I was enraptured with it.
I could detail every single story. The one inspired by the cartoon, Scooby Doo. The one about the actress haunting a director. The Nag Bride- a terrifying ghost story. Every tale impresses upon the reader, more and more, that A. C. Wise is a gifted storyteller with a mind full of strange, unusual, frightening stories. I’m here for all of it. This collection is the absolute best possible first impression one could have if you’re unfamiliar with Wise’s work. My highest recommendation....more
When the Reckoning Comes is an immersive Southern Gothic horror story transporting the reader through the dark, violent history of a tobacco plantation narrated by a black woman named Mira. Mira had a troubling experience at the Woodsman plantation as a teenager when she and her friend Jesse explored the abandoned grounds together. What they encountered eventually caused Jesse to be accused by racists of homicide; considered guilty by public opinion. After at least a decade, Mira returns to her hometown when a mutual friend, Celine, invites her to attend her wedding at the newly renovated Woodsman plantation. Mira hopes Jesse will be there. What ensues is an actual nightmare beginning with Mira’s discovery that the plantation is now operating as a tourist attraction complete with White tour guides and black laborers reenacting the power dynamic of enslavement. These opening scenes are difficult to read, reminiscent of Jordan Peele’s horror/thriller, GET OUT. It’s uncomfortable to visualize the era of enslavement romanticized in a modern, public venue. As the wedding ceremony draws near, Mira is increasingly troubled by her past trauma on these same grounds as well as the felt trauma supernaturally communicated by the ghosts of enslaved people. Mira is haunted by horrible, graphic visions of brutality, rape, torture, and murder. The story builds to a climax and the pages fly, will history repeat itself when Celine, the bride-to-be, doesn’t show up to her own wedding? Will injustices committed at Woodsman be avenged? While the subject matter here is extremely disturbing and graphically detailed, LaTanya McQueen successfully employs effective literary techniques like the voices of the enslaved, multiple timelines, and sensory visions from the past in order to break out from the one narrator POV to enrich the storytelling. These transitions keep the reader engaged like a thriller providing a layered, textured experience to the horrors being depicted. The perfect blend of horror and thriller. Definitely recommend to fans of historical-horror fiction, and books like Toni Morrison’s Beloved or P. Djeli Clark’s, Ring Shout....more
Loading...
