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Placerita
It's 1928, and something strange is afoot in the desert town of Placerita just north of Los Angeles. When young biologist Alexis Crawford discovers an unidentifiable specimen washed up in the wake of a devastating flood, it begins a journey that will reveal the dark conspiracies at the heart of California and the secret known only to a few: that beneath the City of Angels is an ancient world of tunnels lined in gold, a world that is home to the legendary Lizard People.
- GenresHorror
66 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2024
About the author
Lisa Morton
268 books246 followersLisa Morton is a screenwriter, author of horror fiction, and Halloween expert. She is a winner of both the Black Quill and Bram Stoker Awards, and her short stories have appeared in more than 50 books and magazines. Her first novel, THE CASTLE OF LOS ANGELES, was released by Gray Friar Press in 2010, and her first collection, MONSTERS OF L.A., was published by Bad Moon Books in October 2011. She is a native and lifelong resident of Southern California, and currently resides in the San Fernando Valley.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 14, 2024
PLACERITA is an intriguing premise, set against the ambiance of the 1920's and steeped in the culture of early 20th century California. Morton and Palisano have created a seamlessly woven collaboration of cults, old Hollywood legends, tragic disasters and eerie rumors. Adventure and risk await in this quick, compelling read.
June 10, 2024
I went into this blind, having previously enjoyed works from both authors. I was pleasantly surprised by the direction the story went: it's all there on the cover though! To put it briefly (and spoiler-free - I checked and it's already included in the book's synopsis): Lizard People living in tunnels under 1920s Los Angeles! Sounds like a nutty conspiracy theory, right? Well, Morton and Palisano could have turned this into a bleak ride into the world of "serpent races," "reptilian humanoids," and other absurdities heard today; they chose to offer a quick, highly entertaining read instead, brimming with mystery, secrets, and menace - yet with the spotlight firmly kept on the female protagonist, Alexis Crawford, a biology university teacher in an era where women had limited academic career opportunities in science. Alexis makes a significant discovery and she's suddenly thrown right in the middle of a long-term struggle playing out underneath the city of LA. Add some romance, several points about religion, brief glimpses into Prohibition Era entertainment, and you get a fine, fast-paced story of one woman's struggle to discover the truth, however unpleasant. The fascinating dilemma in the ending is simply genius! I unreservedly recommend giving this novella a try!
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June 14, 2024Very fun with pulpy plot and crisp prose! It left me wanting more time with multiple characters, which is a wonderful achievement for stories.
June 27, 2024
What do you get when two fantastic authors team up to write a story?
You get this weird tale of intrigue, secrets, and Lizard People living under LA!
The story is set in the 1920's and reads like a Pulp Fiction novel - only well written instead of the typical "pulp" writing style.
It was fun, quirky, and poses the age-old question - would you choose the lady or the tiger?
I only wished the story was longer - Lisa and John are fantastic on their own, but magical when they collaborate!
You get this weird tale of intrigue, secrets, and Lizard People living under LA!
The story is set in the 1920's and reads like a Pulp Fiction novel - only well written instead of the typical "pulp" writing style.
It was fun, quirky, and poses the age-old question - would you choose the lady or the tiger?
I only wished the story was longer - Lisa and John are fantastic on their own, but magical when they collaborate!
June 20, 2024
A fun, quick tale about lizard people under LA.
June 16, 2024
Overall, there's quite a lot to like here. The fun storyline here involves the initial discovery of the strange remains from the leftover wreckage in the house, the race to discover the truth behind the object in the face of the devastating flood around the community, and how it all ties together with this strange story revealed throughout it involving a supposed race of lizard-people that have been released. It's handled remarkably well, with a fine sense of intrigue over how the strange pieces come together initially following the discovery which is a rather intriguing series of encounters following up on these events, leading to some fine confrontations with figures wanting the hand kept confidential with the ongoing mystery that comes about as to the identity of the object and how it all connects to the lizard-people legend involving secret cults, mysterious figures in league with the creatures, and a speakeasy owner that knows more than they're letting on.
Given that this all takes place at a frantic, engaging tempo through the writing style presented helps to make the story go by in a complete blur as she discovers more about the strange creatures around her. This story is quite fun and takes a few unexpected turns involving who's really on board with the property and how it all leads together to this realization that the creatures aren't as dangerous as initially suspected which is where the one slight issue here comes from. With the way the creatures are presented, there's not much in the way of genuine threat here with the race to keep them at bay and in peace with society hidden away like they have been so it's got more of a suspense/mystery tone than all sorts of rampaging creature action that could've been utilized here. None of this is truly a drawback but is a factor to be had with this one, even though there's a lot to like here.
Given that this all takes place at a frantic, engaging tempo through the writing style presented helps to make the story go by in a complete blur as she discovers more about the strange creatures around her. This story is quite fun and takes a few unexpected turns involving who's really on board with the property and how it all leads together to this realization that the creatures aren't as dangerous as initially suspected which is where the one slight issue here comes from. With the way the creatures are presented, there's not much in the way of genuine threat here with the race to keep them at bay and in peace with society hidden away like they have been so it's got more of a suspense/mystery tone than all sorts of rampaging creature action that could've been utilized here. None of this is truly a drawback but is a factor to be had with this one, even though there's a lot to like here.
June 24, 2024
After the collapse of the St. Francis Dam, Alexis finds her life in a tailspin. Her home has been wiped out in the flood and all that remains now is nothing but silt. Buried in that silt she stumbles upon a startling discovery -- a severed, and inhuman, hand, covered in scales and bearing wickedly sharp claws. A biologist, Alexis takes it back to her university lab and quickly finds herself thrust into a conspiracy of ancient legends surrounding a race of lizard people dwelling deep beneath Los Angeles.
Set in the 1920s, Lisa Morton and John Palisano have built into Placerita a lot of interesting hooks, ranging from an illegal speakeasy to an insane cult leader that gives this story a lovely noir vibe, but the story's brevity robs them of any impact. Coming in at only 66 pages, Placerita has some grand ideas, but they largely go untapped.
What should have been a novel is instead given cursory treatment as longish short story. Events happen to Alexis, one atop another, with nary any room to breathe and then -- BAM! -- it's over. There's no grand release of tension, no hairy climax or violent confrontation between modern man and primordial forces, no journey into the unknown labyrinth of the Lizard People lurking beneath California. Just a two paragraph denouement that leaves you aghast at all the unrealized potential Placerita offered and failed to deliver upon.
Set in the 1920s, Lisa Morton and John Palisano have built into Placerita a lot of interesting hooks, ranging from an illegal speakeasy to an insane cult leader that gives this story a lovely noir vibe, but the story's brevity robs them of any impact. Coming in at only 66 pages, Placerita has some grand ideas, but they largely go untapped.
What should have been a novel is instead given cursory treatment as longish short story. Events happen to Alexis, one atop another, with nary any room to breathe and then -- BAM! -- it's over. There's no grand release of tension, no hairy climax or violent confrontation between modern man and primordial forces, no journey into the unknown labyrinth of the Lizard People lurking beneath California. Just a two paragraph denouement that leaves you aghast at all the unrealized potential Placerita offered and failed to deliver upon.
June 16, 2024
Placerita is one of those books that balances horror, history, and suspense with just a hint of humor. Think X-Files if it was set in 1928. Without giving too much away, Alexis Crawford is a young biology teacher who, after a devastating flood that wipes out the family homestead, finds something that shouldn't exist. And not long after, she's thrown into a mystery thousands of years old, one that not only changes her view of the world but puts her life in terrible danger. Showing remarkable spunk, she determines to find out the truth and discovers that what she's known as reality is really just a curtain hiding the truth.
Authors Lisa Morton and John Palisano have done an excellent job crafting believable characters and taking a well-known modern conspiracy theorist theme and twisting into a historical horror novel that works on every level.
My one complaint is that this book is too short. Just as I was getting into the story, and thought I'd reached a big cliffhanger point, it stopped!
My own fault for not checking the number of pages. Now I have to hope for a sequel so I can find out what happens to everyone.
If you like a fast-paced thriller that you can read in 1 sitting, this book delivers the goods.
This book was provided to me for review purposes.
September 17, 2024
Two fine authors, and a concept that should've been richly mined for historical dark-fantasy--but this is all we get? Underdeveloped at almost every turn. The backstory potential of ancient wonders is particularly given short shrift. The clashes with the early-20th-century development of Southern California are handled a little better. Yet the protagonist character was solidly three-dimensional--I wanted to see where she would next weigh whether (and how much) to be assertive in a time and in multiple intersecting, clashing cultures. But after intrigue and action (and, at last!, some moments with full-flowering of the plot's creature-feature potential) during a road trip of moderate length, the last scene arrives and quickly adopts the shortcut of a quick drop-off. End of long novelette...leaving me literally holding tight onto the last page, as if I could will the fuller version of this story into being.
June 11, 2024
There was a creeping dread throughout this whole book. The lizard people were always in the background. You didn’t know when they were going to show up or what their motivations were. The mystery made them terrifying in my opinion. I loved the fact that this book was set in the 20s. I just really enjoy that time period. Alexis was a very strong character, and I loved the fact that she was spunky and wanted to rise above what was considered normal for a woman in that time. For some reason, this reminded me of an old black-and-white movie. As I was reading it, I could just see the scenes so vividly in my head. I would love to see another story featuring the lizard people. The only question now is do they really live underneath California? I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2024
I always thought the St. Francis Dam disaster would be a great event to include in a story, and it fits in so well with this well set story. I loved the atmosphere of this story and enjoyed every aspect of it. With the dam disaster and Mulholland's part in it, this almost felt like the horror/fantasy prelude to Chinatown.
Would love to see a 1960's sequel with Jim Morrison.
Would love to see a 1960's sequel with Jim Morrison.
June 16, 2024
Fun but leaves you wanting more
This was a light and quick read. A neat premier although nothing new. It was nice having a female protagonist, given the time period and Lovecraftian overtones.
This was a light and quick read. A neat premier although nothing new. It was nice having a female protagonist, given the time period and Lovecraftian overtones.
August 2, 2024
This book is short and therefore fast moving. Events happen quickly. Lizard people living under LA was interesting enough. If you just want a fast paced book to fill up your reading challenge, this one fills that billet.
July 26, 2023
Lots of fun!
June 29, 2024
Flood
After a flood, something strange washes up in Placerita. What is it? Are more still alive? Is anyone safe? The town will find out.
After a flood, something strange washes up in Placerita. What is it? Are more still alive? Is anyone safe? The town will find out.
July 21, 2024
Fun fast ride!
July 10, 2024
A wonderful slice of California history and urban myth with a generous serving of pulp. Placerita is a short horror story about a woman that finds herself entangled in a web of mystery surrounding a local legend about lizard people. The writing remained light even during a few of the creepier moments, which made the story a fast and fun read.
I really enjoyed the weirdness of the story, and the vibrancy of the roaring 20s setting. I was less keen on the romance that felt shoehorned in, and the mystery was so intriguing it felt a bit too rushed and I wanted a little more, which is a compliment in itself. I was surprised to find that there is indeed some smoke to the fire, as there really was a man named G. Warren Shufelt that claims to have found subterranean tunnels built by lizard people underneath California 5,000 years ago. Yes really.
Overall a fast and adventurous read that was a breath of fresh air compared to the darker horror stories flooding the market right now.
I really enjoyed the weirdness of the story, and the vibrancy of the roaring 20s setting. I was less keen on the romance that felt shoehorned in, and the mystery was so intriguing it felt a bit too rushed and I wanted a little more, which is a compliment in itself. I was surprised to find that there is indeed some smoke to the fire, as there really was a man named G. Warren Shufelt that claims to have found subterranean tunnels built by lizard people underneath California 5,000 years ago. Yes really.
Overall a fast and adventurous read that was a breath of fresh air compared to the darker horror stories flooding the market right now.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews