The Haunted is as you would expect a haunted house story and a very good one at that. I dont normally connect with haunted house stories very much butThe Haunted is as you would expect a haunted house story and a very good one at that. I dont normally connect with haunted house stories very much but all the characters in this were so authentic and likeable I couldn't help enjoying this.
The house is making the occupants see, hear, feel and do things out of there control. It forces them to keep secrets and be deceptive and the real reason behind why it is occurring is full of history dating back to the foundation of America.
This has some great scary scenes of violence and some pretty full on sex scenes especially for Bentley Little. The ending was heartbreaking as well after becoming so attached for these characters....more
Sallow Bend is an ok horror novel that's not overly scary or inventive but does has some good characters, is well written but leaves unanswered questiSallow Bend is an ok horror novel that's not overly scary or inventive but does has some good characters, is well written but leaves unanswered questions.
Children have been going missing from Sallow Bend of recent times and when a carnival comes to town two further young teens disappear. One of the carnival folk find the girls in the backwoods in an abandoned shack however instead of two girls returning its three with Hester another 13 year old appearing out of nowhere coming with them.
Everyone in the town except a select few seem to think this normal and believe Hester has been a resident of the town....she hasnt however and there is something way more sinister to Hester and she has a grip on the town and death follows her.
Sounds pretty good right? Well it is decent but I felt it just dragged on and on in parts. Alot of time is taken up reading about the carnival folk and the prejudice they suffer when they come to town and their politics. We get a few violent scenes here and there but it does seem not alot really happens with the main story line until the final 15 percent of the book.
This isn't to say it's a bad story at all as its definitely written very well but the plot just didn't pull me in making me want to continue reading it so this one took a while to get through. I seem to be in the minority with my opinion on this so read it for yourself and you may enjoy it more. Just average for me.
Merged review:
Sallow Bend is an ok horror novel that's not overly scary or inventive but does has some good characters, is well written but leaves unanswered questions.
Children have been going missing from Sallow Bend of recent times and when a carnival comes to town two further young teens disappear. One of the carnival folk find the girls in the backwoods in an abandoned shack however instead of two girls returning its three with Hester another 13 year old appearing out of nowhere coming with them.
Everyone in the town except a select few seem to think this normal and believe Hester has been a resident of the town....she hasnt however and there is something way more sinister to Hester and she has a grip on the town and death follows her.
Sounds pretty good right? Well it is decent but I felt it just dragged on and on in parts. Alot of time is taken up reading about the carnival folk and the prejudice they suffer when they come to town and their politics. We get a few violent scenes here and there but it does seem not alot really happens with the main story line until the final 15 percent of the book.
This isn't to say it's a bad story at all as its definitely written very well but the plot just didn't pull me in making me want to continue reading it so this one took a while to get through. I seem to be in the minority with my opinion on this so read it for yourself and you may enjoy it more. Just average for me....more
I've had this sitting on the shelf for a while having picked it up at a thrift store hoping it will be a good read around the festive season. Mary HigI've had this sitting on the shelf for a while having picked it up at a thrift store hoping it will be a good read around the festive season. Mary Higgins Clark is a household name for mystery and suspense but this is the first of her work I have read.
We follow Catherine and her two young sons Brian and Michael as the listen to Carol singers in downtown Manhattan. Catherine drops her wallet to the ground which is picked up by Cally who returns home with it. Brian sees this and leaves his mother and follows Cally intent on getting the wallet back. Little does he know Callys brother has just escaped from prison and is on the run and he grabs Brian as he goes to Callys house.
What follows is the manhunt for Brian, a mothers desperate pleas for his safe return and the spirit of Christmas shining through in its conclusion.
It's a simple and straightforward story. No real twists or turns or build up of a tension. Its enjoyable and short but probably not a good entry point to show of the 'Queen of Suspense' talents as it was kinda bland and average....more
This months read for the Richard Laymon Book Club was Out Are the Lights which contains a novella of the title name and five other short stories. I deThis months read for the Richard Laymon Book Club was Out Are the Lights which contains a novella of the title name and five other short stories. I definitely preferred the short stories over the novella Out Are the Lights but it was also decent.
Out Are the Lights follows two separate stories which take turns each chapter the first being a hideous killer named Shreck and his crew who film real murders and torture and then use the footage to play as short films at the cinema at movie marathons to the unsuspecting audience. It's ok some good kills but wasnt anything special. The second part of this story follows Connie and Dal who are madly in love before Dal finds himself falling for the seductive Elizabeth who loves playing mind games with him. Sex, murder and revenge play out in some funny and weird scenes.
The short stories were all very good. Mess hall follows a young woman kidnapped by a serial killer who struggles to survive. Dinkers Pond is a Gold prospector telling a story at a bar about how a woman got between himself and his best friend and contained some cool supernatural elements.
Madman Stan is a tale of a horrible babysitter telling the story of a madman on the loose to the children she is watching. It's all a story right it cant be true? Well maybe it is...
Bad News was just average and is the story of some hybrid killer rates which go on a rampage in a town and one family fight for survival. The last story and maybe the best behind Dinkers Pond is The Tub and follows a woman who invites her lover over when he husband is out of town. They get down and dirty in the tub when the poor bloke dies on top of her and she is unable to move. How will she get out of this situation with a corpse on top of her? This has a pretty nice twist to it and some decent tension I really enjoyed this story.
Overall it's very good I just wished I had liked the main story a bit more than I did cause the other stories were great....more
Fantastic collection of horrific Christmas storys all very different from each other and featuring a who's who of indie horror authors.
Normally with aFantastic collection of horrific Christmas storys all very different from each other and featuring a who's who of indie horror authors.
Normally with anthologies they can be hit or miss but honestly this collection is nearly all hits and great ones at that.
My top 3 for the collection are Judith Sonnets "Abomination in Wax" David Irons "Deaf and Dumb Danny Does Christmas" and Carl John Lee's "Blitzen". That is only if I had to chose a top 3 because they are all great in there own way.
If this is the quality of stuff Brian G Berry and Slaughterhouse Press are producing I'm looking forward to continuing to support them....more
What a fantastic middle grade horror story this is. It's a perfect story for Christmas time as basically every chapter has some type of Christmas actiWhat a fantastic middle grade horror story this is. It's a perfect story for Christmas time as basically every chapter has some type of Christmas activity occurring and its snow filled landscape brings the season to the pages.
3 little Elve ornaments are brought to life however they dont bring any Christmas cheer this season. The Christmas spirit is long gone from their hearts and they seek revenge on poor Kelsey. Can she and her brother survive there onslaught whilst her parents dont believe a word of her pleas for help?
In the vein of Goosebumps and just as good as anything RL Stine has written. Perfect for the season if you have a pre teen or just love reading some middle grade....more
Santa is diverted off course on Christmas eve and ends up in what initially is a Christmas wonderland full of everything to bring Christmas joy. It's Santa is diverted off course on Christmas eve and ends up in what initially is a Christmas wonderland full of everything to bring Christmas joy. It's not long however before Santa realizes he was forced to this place and not everything is at it seems.
There is no Christmas wonder in this story and no happy ending for poor old Santa Claus.
Lots of dark humor in this very short story, plenty of disgusting descriptions my favourite being the 'crap in a box' and some bloody violence thrown in for good measure. I just wish it had been longer as I was just getting into it when it was all over that's my only gripe really. Definitely worth reading if you after a short Christmas horror read....more
After reading Dean's latest After Death last month and not really enjoying it I'm glad to say Mr Murder was awesome. Whilst it has a great looking ChrAfter reading Dean's latest After Death last month and not really enjoying it I'm glad to say Mr Murder was awesome. Whilst it has a great looking Christmas cover it's really does not have much to do with Christmas overall.
Martin Stillwater is an up and coming author of mystery novels who lives with his wife and two daughters. One day a man breaks into his home and attacks him. This man is the splitting imagine of Martin and the man wants his life, his wife and his kids that he believes Martin has stolen from him. How can this be? Martin doesnt have a twin, who is this person and why does he look exactly like him?
This lookalike is special and can heal his wounds quickly and is an unstoppable killing machine. The police are no help so what can Martin and his family do to survive the onslaught the man is about to bring.
This is typical Koontz writing, awesome plot, tons of action and suspense and hidden secrets which all will eventually be revealed. The Christmas theme comes from poem Martin writes and reads to his Children throughout the book and I believe is the basis for his Christmas book "Santas Twin" he released later on.
Definitely one to check out had a great time reading it....more
This was a slog to get through even though it's only short. Each story in this is 500 words of less which really hampers what the authors can do as thThis was a slog to get through even though it's only short. Each story in this is 500 words of less which really hampers what the authors can do as that's not much of a word count. The majority of these were totally forgettable and had little to offer.
I am Australian and the only name I knew from this list of authors was Alan Baxter whose story was one of the better ones. I guess it's just the fact each story is only a few paragraphs long which really hampers the overall collection. Not overly festive either....more
This is my first Darcy Coates read even though I have known of her for a long time and the fact she is an Aussie and lives near me I have just never tThis is my first Darcy Coates read even though I have known of her for a long time and the fact she is an Aussie and lives near me I have just never taken the time to read her before. This book was awesome and a great winter read.
We follow Christa as she and her boyfriend attend a tour into the frozen landscape of the Rockey Mountains for a weekend away in a cabin. We meet lots of other characters on the tour bus as they make there way before a tree across the road forces them to walk the rest of the way.
A killer is amongst the group and what started out as a quite getaway turns deadly as they are picked off one by one in some gruesome ways. Who is doing the killings and why? Will they survive the harsh elements and the killer before they can be rescued? As events from Christas past return to the forefront she must do anything she can to make it out alive.
This is a very good who done it mystery with some creative and bloody deaths. I went back and forth numerous times on who I thought the killer was and the reveal was a shock to me. The landscape adds another layer of dread to the whole situation and all the characters are believable, unique and bring alot to the overall story. Darcy builds the tension with ease and the plot moves along never being dull.
Fans of thrillers and slashers will enjoy this one for sure and is a good one to read around the winter time. 4.5 stars down to 4 for GR....more
Last Christmas a holiday themed thriller mystery which starts and ends well but bogs down in the middle.
Neil and Saschas marriage is on the rocks. NeiLast Christmas a holiday themed thriller mystery which starts and ends well but bogs down in the middle.
Neil and Saschas marriage is on the rocks. Neil has a drinking problem and the couple cant fall pregnant due to fertility issues. This has caused Neil's mental health to suffer.
The couple attend Saschas parents house for Christmas however her sisters and their husbands are also in attendance who Neil despises. What starts out as an awkward few days ends up in the death of one of the family members. Is it an accident, suicide or murder? As the truth is slowly revealed and more painful secrets come to light we ask will there be more deaths this Christmas??
This contains ALOT of family drama which is ok I guess to build character development but every single character is flawed and I didn't like any of them as a person. Not a single one which hampered my expereince overall.
It takes a long time to really get going and the middle drags a fair bit but the ending is pretty good and I didn't guess it even if it's a little far fetched.
This is my first story by this author and it was pretty good. We follow John a young man who is shown the dark web by his best friend. They watch a woThis is my first story by this author and it was pretty good. We follow John a young man who is shown the dark web by his best friend. They watch a woman be horrifically killed on video and it sparks something in him. John has found his lifes calling. It awakens his darkest desires.
Skip forward a few months and with a new camera he is ready to create his own snuff video with the perfect victim his loving girlfriend.
This is extreme horror and entirely focuses on torture, rape and murder. Its particularly heartbreaking knowing how sweet his girlfriend is and how much she truly loved him whilst he subjects her to heinous acts.
It's short running at 36 pages and is part of a series I am led to believe. Fans of extreme horror should enjoy this but it doesnt reinvent the wheel but is still a brutal read. 3.5 stars to 4 for goodreads....more
For a novel written in 1884 it's still quite entertaining even today.
The story is told from the point of view of Axel who is the nephew of Professor For a novel written in 1884 it's still quite entertaining even today.
The story is told from the point of view of Axel who is the nephew of Professor Lidenbrock. The professor discovers an old book which has inside an old manuscript showing the way to the centre of the earth. What follows is the journey they make and the wonders and horrors they find.
I like the professor he was very eccentric, moody and highly driven letting nothing get in his way of making it to the earth's core. Axel is also highly likeable as a young man in love and how he deals with the Professors behaviour along the way.
My favourite part is definitely the quest once they make inside the earth. It's full of hazardous elements, dinosaurs and discoveries of ancient fossils. There is a fair amount of info dumping on the science of the whole quest and how it can actually be taken out which is pretty dry. Some good tension as well when Axel gets lost inside the earth in total darkness.
Overall I enjoyed it. It's not an easy read by any means for modern audiences or people like myself who havent read much of the 'classics' but for such an old novel it was surprisingly entertaining....more
A comet comes to earth and in doing so gives off a magical display of light into the sky. This brings out everyone to watch its beauty. The following A comet comes to earth and in doing so gives off a magical display of light into the sky. This brings out everyone to watch its beauty. The following day all those who saw end up blind throwing the world in chaos. There are a small minority who did not see the display who have sight and they need to establish a new world which has lost all power and hope.
As this is occurring the triffords a new plant species has started to evolve and they are walking and attacking humans who get to close. They appear to be communicating with each other and growing in number as the days progress.
We follow our protagonist in this dystopian world as he struggles to come to terms with this new future. Humanity has crumbled and the blind are reliant of the sighted however with the numbers of blind far out weighing them what can be done? As councils of the sighted are set up and different views or what should occur split the groups the worst of humanity is seen.
This is a story about humans and how it deals with hardships and starting again more so than the triffords. The trifford plants do play a small role especially near the end when they start to attack the humans more but its definitely a minor part of the plot.
It's a wonderful story of hardships, love and determination set in a dystopian world thrust upon humankind. Is it easier for each individual to worry about themselves or should we band together and assist those in need and create a future again from scratch?...more
I knew going into reading this that It was nothing like the movie and that it focused on military training for the most part. In saying that it was prI knew going into reading this that It was nothing like the movie and that it focused on military training for the most part. In saying that it was pretty poorly paced for my liking overall. My favourite part was definitely the last two chapters where we see Johnnie really shine after all his training and mentoring throughout the novel.
I'm still happy I read it and it was interesting if a little lackluster. I dont understand the "controversial" aspect of it really. Yeah its pro military and has an element of war glamour but I cant see the racism in it that others seem to find. It could be that it went over my head but I just don't see it.
It has some likeable characters and entertaining elements but its pacing was too slow for me to give it higher stars. 3.5 down to 3....more
This book is all over Instagram and booktube this Christmas and the premise sounded intriguing. It starts off strong and the chapters go back and fortThis book is all over Instagram and booktube this Christmas and the premise sounded intriguing. It starts off strong and the chapters go back and forth between current day and excerpts from a book which has been written. I was definitely enjoying it and loving the coming of age story aspect of the book part which follows our protagonist as a child and his friends.
Once we get to the twist and the fight against the villain it kinda lost its charm. It wasn't bad at all but these chapters and its ending kinda dragged for me personally. Its definitely a good book and written well but something I wouldnt see myself revisiting....more
Eric Summers delivers again in this short but brutal and gory story.
Dr Angus is testing a new virtual reality system called Verity. It allows fourth Eric Summers delivers again in this short but brutal and gory story.
Dr Angus is testing a new virtual reality system called Verity. It allows fourth dimension reality where the human body becomes the console. The problem is the real world and the virtual world are interconnected and what occurs in one presents in the other....for a game called bloodshed involving demonic beasts this spells bad news for its test subjects...all 483 of them.
We are given some amazing descriptions of gore and terror along with some hideous beasts within the game. I loved this short story and would definitely read a novel length version of this as the premise is very interesting to me. At only 30ish pages definitely check this out it gives a good showing of Erica's talents as a writer. Everything I have read of hers so far has been amazing....more
I've taken a longish break from reading scifi and vowed to get back into it over the next few months. The first book I chose was one sitting on the shI've taken a longish break from reading scifi and vowed to get back into it over the next few months. The first book I chose was one sitting on the shelf for a while The Stainless Steel Rat and it was a great choice to get me back onto a scifi kick.
This is vintage pulpy scifi full of space travel, adventure, intrigue and just an all round fun story.
We follow Slippery Jim Di Griz a criminal who hops from Galaxy to galaxy committing various thefts, robberys and frauds and living the good life. That is to one job goes wrong and he is captured by the feared police Corps the elite unit of the known universe. He is recruited to the group and soon discovers a plot to build a deadly battleship on a remote planet which could cause unknown destruction.
It's great pulp writing, simple to follow, has some good laughs thrown in and plenty of action and adventure in every chapter. I've already ordered the second book in the series and looking forward to continuing to see what Slippery gets himself mixed up in next. 3.5 stars upped to 4 for goodreads....more
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