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wellwortharead's reviews
1026 reviews
Perfect Union by Cody Goodfellow
3.5
It is not my usual type but once I started I just couldn't look away.
Drew is on a road trip with his two brothers-in-law. The plan is to pack up mama and move her and her belongings elsewhere before she ends up living too close to them. None of them have a relationship with her or want her around for reasons that become apparent later in the book. When they get there she is missing and there is a mix of relief and a who cares attitude other than some slight worry about the possibility of being blamed for her disappearance. At this point the reader knows where mama has gone... but our characters don't.
A surreal mix of incest, child abuse, politics, and bees follows.
Yes. Bees. and I will never look at them the same way again.
I'm not sure what I expected from the synopsis but I was taken aback by this bizarro tale of family dysfunction that morphed into a satire of the far left versus the far right, communism, and sex in what I would describe as a dystopian ecological horror.
If you are looking for over the top violence and a totally berserk plot this may be for you.
My thanks to Ghoulish Books.
Sebastian by P.D. Cacek
3.0
Morgan has always had a complicated relationship with his famous photographer mom. There is love there, but there is also the camera, always present and intruding on personal events and what should have been private moments.
Now suddenly, there is Sebastian, the manikin his mother claims is just for a series of photos but has become another intrusive presence in Morgan's life.
This was more of a psychological/family drama than the actual horror I was expecting. Not to say it wasn't a good story although it did move a little slowly in the middle. It kind of bothered me every time the word manikin was used since it was specifically mentioned that it had been purchased at a children's clothing store that was going out of business, and to me, that would be a mannequin which is what department stores use to display clothing and not a manikin which is what you get from a medical supply company to practice CPR and such. But that could just be my OCD kicking in.
Anyway, it was a decent story in which an obsession leads to an unexpected outcome, but there are no scares involved.
I received an advance copy for review.
Now suddenly, there is Sebastian, the manikin his mother claims is just for a series of photos but has become another intrusive presence in Morgan's life.
This was more of a psychological/family drama than the actual horror I was expecting. Not to say it wasn't a good story although it did move a little slowly in the middle. It kind of bothered me every time the word manikin was used since it was specifically mentioned that it had been purchased at a children's clothing store that was going out of business, and to me, that would be a mannequin which is what department stores use to display clothing and not a manikin which is what you get from a medical supply company to practice CPR and such. But that could just be my OCD kicking in.
Anyway, it was a decent story in which an obsession leads to an unexpected outcome, but there are no scares involved.
I received an advance copy for review.
The Nightmare Man by J.H. Markert
4.0
I was first attracted to this cover since I can not resist a creepy scarecrow. The synopsis further piqued my interest even though I thought it may not be all that original. This is not the first time in horror that strange murders have seemed to copy an author's book. However, this is not the same old hat.
This is a story that spans generations. Ben and his sister grew up in a dysfunctional family and suffered the tragic loss of their younger brother who has been presumed dead. Not long after this, their parents were killed in a car crash. Years have passed but Ben has kept secrets, including the fact that he still looks for his brother. His sister Emily has also kept secrets concerning what really happened to her in their grandfather's forbidden room. There is much I could tell you about grandfather but I don't want to spoil anything for you. Suffice it to say that although this may sound more like a psychological thriller it is grandpa that brings about the supernatural horror.
As a child, Ben already knew he wanted to be a writer. Now he has grown up to be a best selling author. He has written a gruesome novel full of grisly murders. Unfortunately, he is struggling to complete the sequel, his marriage is falling apart, and the police have lots of questions for him about the dead bodies that are turning up in real life exactly the way he wrote them in his novel.
Detective Mills is trying to unravel this mystery but he has secrets and demons of his own that have burdened him for most of his life. His daughter Sam has followed in his footsteps of police work and their dysfunctional relationship further complicates matters.
The Nightmare Man is full of unexpected surprises and twisty paths that I didn't see coming. The relationship between Detective Mills and his daughter and the relationship between Ben and his wife feels genuine. It is dark, and original, and cleverly written. Each character, even those who play a minor role have their own creepy backstory. The chills are many and the fear runs rampant especially if like me you have ever been plagued with nightmares.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books
This is a story that spans generations. Ben and his sister grew up in a dysfunctional family and suffered the tragic loss of their younger brother who has been presumed dead. Not long after this, their parents were killed in a car crash. Years have passed but Ben has kept secrets, including the fact that he still looks for his brother. His sister Emily has also kept secrets concerning what really happened to her in their grandfather's forbidden room. There is much I could tell you about grandfather but I don't want to spoil anything for you. Suffice it to say that although this may sound more like a psychological thriller it is grandpa that brings about the supernatural horror.
As a child, Ben already knew he wanted to be a writer. Now he has grown up to be a best selling author. He has written a gruesome novel full of grisly murders. Unfortunately, he is struggling to complete the sequel, his marriage is falling apart, and the police have lots of questions for him about the dead bodies that are turning up in real life exactly the way he wrote them in his novel.
Detective Mills is trying to unravel this mystery but he has secrets and demons of his own that have burdened him for most of his life. His daughter Sam has followed in his footsteps of police work and their dysfunctional relationship further complicates matters.
The Nightmare Man is full of unexpected surprises and twisty paths that I didn't see coming. The relationship between Detective Mills and his daughter and the relationship between Ben and his wife feels genuine. It is dark, and original, and cleverly written. Each character, even those who play a minor role have their own creepy backstory. The chills are many and the fear runs rampant especially if like me you have ever been plagued with nightmares.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books
The Night Road by Kevin Lucia
4.0
Grace used to love running cross country, and track and field. Her sister Lilly was also a runner for a time, but it is Grace who won too many trophies to count.
These days running is not so much something she enjoys, as something she is bound to do. It is an uncontrollable urge, her drug of choice, her escape, and the only thing that makes her life bearable. She runs to forget, to be released for a short time of the guilt she feels, over her sister being in the hospital, close to death.
She is out for a run when she first spots the crows, and another mysterious runner in black, the identity of whom she feels compelled to discover.
This is a story of love and guilt, regret and betrayal, told at a quick pace with a dash of Irish folklore to give it a nice kick. I was dying to know what led to Lilly's grim prognosis and why Grace blamed herself. There was mention of an "other thing" That Grace didn't want anyone to know which really piqued my curiosity and kept me turning pages to the shocking conclusion.
There are also some incredibly haunting illustrations included which I loved.
These days running is not so much something she enjoys, as something she is bound to do. It is an uncontrollable urge, her drug of choice, her escape, and the only thing that makes her life bearable. She runs to forget, to be released for a short time of the guilt she feels, over her sister being in the hospital, close to death.
She is out for a run when she first spots the crows, and another mysterious runner in black, the identity of whom she feels compelled to discover.
This is a story of love and guilt, regret and betrayal, told at a quick pace with a dash of Irish folklore to give it a nice kick. I was dying to know what led to Lilly's grim prognosis and why Grace blamed herself. There was mention of an "other thing" That Grace didn't want anyone to know which really piqued my curiosity and kept me turning pages to the shocking conclusion.
There are also some incredibly haunting illustrations included which I loved.
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
4.0
Stephen Aston is still quite a catch in his 60's. Trim, fit, charismatic, and oh so caring and handsome. It's no wonder a woman who is young enough to be his daughter has accepted his marriage proposal. Especially considering that he can provide the kind of life she's only dreamed of. No, not just his money, but acceptance, social standing, fitting in, being part of a normal family. Of course he's not entirely perfect, or surely he would stand by his wedding vows instead of divorcing his current wife now that she is ill. At least he's been a wonderful father to his two grown daughters. Or has he? He couldn't have anything to do with all their struggles and emotional problems could he?
Having enjoyed several of this author's previous titles I was pleased to accept an invitation from St. Martin's Press to read an advance copy of her newest novel.
I have seen this book classified as a thriller, and as suspense, but in my humble opinion I would file it under General Fiction/Domestic Drama/ leaning towards Women's Fiction.
This is heavy on the dysfunctional family aspect, juicier than an episode of Desperate Housewives and I'm totally here for it. I loved both daughters and their poor mom Pam who suffers dementia. Even the too young replacement bride grew on me, and trying to figure out if Stephen was a good guy or a bad guy really kept me on my toes right to the final page.
If you are in the mood for a scandalous good time with loads of secrets to uncover, grab yourself a copy. You've been invited to the wedding of The Younger Wife.
Midnight From Beyond the Stars by Kenneth W. Cain, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Ronald Kelly, James Newman, Samantha Kolesnik, Gabino Iglesias, Janine Pipe, Tim Curran, Lee Murray, William Meikle
dark
fast-paced
4.0
I have enjoyed the previous horror anthologies published by Silver Shamrock, but I had put off reading this one for a while. I do love short horror stories but the title and the cover made me think this one may be just a little too outer spacey and sci fi for me. Well I'm here to say I was wrong. There were some stories that were not my cup of Tang, but most are full of terror and suspense that occur right here on earth. In fact you need not venture further than your local diner or hair salon for some of these spine tinglers.
My many favorites were-
Abduction Annie by Ronald Kelly in which a meddlesome mother in law finds out whether her daughter in law was truly abducted by aliens.
Unravelling by Stephanie Ellis, about a mother's boundless love.
Snow Blind by Kristopher Triana, in which a woman seeks shelter on the road from a brutal storm.
The Fear of Fallen Leaves by James Newman takes place in my favorite time of year, but Halloween is rough on a single mom who has a phobia of fallen leaves.
The Bulge by Rob E. Boley is a darkly humorous bit of body horror in which a man fears he has caught a "sex disease" but then probably wishes it was that simple.
Skin-Wrapped Gift by Chad Lutzke in which a lonely old man receives a gift that can end the world.
Too Many To Count by Jeremy Hepler in which a quiet evening at home is interrupted by strange creatures.
A Cat Named Sue by Jennifer Soucy begins with a girl who is desperate to keep her cat alive after it tried to defend her from her abusive step father.
The Sky and Above by Patrick Lacey is about a man who would do whatever it takes to get his missing girlfriend back
Skin Tags by Vivian Kasley is another really fun but gross body horror that begins innocently enough with a hair cut.
Whatever You Want Most by Megan E. Hart is about a lonely widow who drowns her sorrows in alcohol and edibles while raising her kids alone.
So whether you do like tales of life from other planets or whether you just enjoy straight up horror as I do, I think you will find this anthology to be an out of this world read.
My thanks to Silver Shamrock Publishing for the review copy.
Spontaneous Human Combustion by Richard Thomas
dark
4.0
So apparently even though I consider myself to be well read, I have been living under a rock because this is my first read by this author.
There are a wondrous range of stories here from dark fiction to fantasy and horror, some with elements of sci-fi. Not all were a perfect hit with me but all are beautifully written which may seem like an odd thing to say about horror and yet I did find beauty even in the ugly situations.
These are not stories to be devoured when you want to drift off to sleep but tales best to ponder when your mind is at it's sharpest because there are events that really made me think.
It should be noted that I read an advance copy which states that the finished product will contain illustrations that are not present here. Even though I did not get to see the artwork I feel I should mention how much I love when a collection has a picture to go with each story.
4 out of 5 stars
My thanks to Turner Publishing for the review copy.
The Beyond by Ken Brosky
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Moon Song and her brother Hye were very close. Even after his drug use and other problems caused a rift between Hye and their parents, the siblings stayed in frequent contact until one day he stopped answering his phone and never returned calls. It is for this reason she hires Ben Sawyer, a private investigator who generally spends his time in lackluster stake outs of cheating spouses in between his vacation time. She accompanies Ben to the mining town of Blackrock, her brother's last known residence and place of employment. There they find some very strange goings on but no sign of Hye.
I didn't care much for Ben at first, but he grew on me and I loved Moon Song and her fierce love for her brother. I loved the way she faced her fears.
Nothing creeps me out more than people acting out of character or beyond the norm, and there seems to be nothing normal in Blackrock. Personalities have changed drastically. A professor who reports to the dean that a student has made inappropriate sexual advances toward him is basically told to go for it. And that's just the start of these bizarre happenings. Don't get me started on the clinic, or the funeral home. What does all of this have to do with the reopened coal mine? You'll have to read to find out.
Recommended highly to all horror readers and especially to those who enjoy Bentley Little novels. I am a huge fan of small town horror where the last remaining normal people turn into unlikely heroes, and that is just part of the reason this fast paced story was a hit with me.
5 out of 5 stars
My thanks to Timber Ghost Press for the review copy.
Road of Bones by Christopher Golden
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Felix Teigland, known as "Teig," has had most of his projects go south. He owes money, he wants to be solvent, he wants at the very least to pay back his last remaining friend Prentiss, who is just about the only one left in the world who will still give him the time of day. He also has his reasons for wanting to believe in ghosts, needing to feel there is something else that comes after this life, that it's not just the end. That there is more than nothingness for those who have passed on.
It is with this purpose he attempts to make a documentary on The Road Of Bones, and the people who live in the coldest place on earth. But wait... where is everyone? The settlement is deserted. Doors are left open, everyone is gone.
I loved these characters. Their friendship feels genuine. They each have their own baggage and yet accept themselves and each other as they are. There is a depth and sincerity to this relationship that leaps off the page. The remote and desolate setting is brutal! The descriptions of the bitter cold wind and snow had me wanting to burrow under my blankets and crank my heat up full blast but it wouldn't have helped because there is so much more than the weather causing this dreadful creeping chill.
Can you survive the Road of Bones?
Ghosts of Christmas Past by Tim Martin
slow-paced
2.0
I have been dying to read this for over a year, but my anticipation and expectation did not match the reality. I love ghost stories, especially set at Christmas time or even during winter in general when the wind is howling and the snow is drifting higher.
I mostly bought this book because of M.R. James and Neil Gaiman but as it turned out the Gaiman "story" didn't fill an entire page even though they left a ton of blank space to stretch it to the other side. The M. R. James story was written as a series of letters to someone's brother concerning their missing uncle. I may have dozed off during that one.
Dinner For One by Jenn Ashworth was the only tale I somewhat enjoyed. It was predictable as all get out but compared to the rest of this book it was the one high note. There was really nothing scary or spine tingly even in the one story that I enjoyed although it was well written. This is definitely not what I was hoping for. You might enjoy it more than I did provided you aren't looking for a scare or anything on par with Dickens.