Supernatural and the Occult

Things that go bump in the night, flashing lights, furniture that moves by itself: here you will find books about ghosts, haunted houses, the occult, as well as happenings and creatures involving other dimensions.

Neil is a soul whose troubles started from the moment of his birth as a winged infant, half human half angel. Moments after his birth he is dropped off at a charity hospital where his wings are removed, leaving scars that stay with him for the rest of his life. Fast forward to his teenage years and Neil is living in a New Orleans orphanage where he is terribly unhappy and doesn’t fit in with the rest of the boys. He runs away, hoping to create a better life for himself, knowing that he is meant for more than what the orphanage has to offer. His experience on the run ends in tragedy, and he is returned to the orphanage, then transferred to a different orphanage where he can attend public school. He remains an outsider to all the students except for Deanna, a girl who becomes his lifelong friend. A decade later, Neil and Deanna have started a band, but are struggling to get by. A mysterious man offers Neil a recording contract if he will add a few songs to the album, songs in an otherworldly language. Neil reluctantly agrees and soon the world seems to be in the palm of his hand. The only problem is that the strange man is an Angel with plans to unseat God and subjugate all of mankind by breeding a race of half-man half-angels. If that isn’t enough to dampen Neil’s success, there is also an insane, shadowy serial killer who has decided that Neil must die.

Mutiny in Heaven is an entertaining and effective read about Angels, demons, and ghosts. It is also a story of sin and acceptance set in a rich and dynamic New Orleans that leaves the reader feeling as though they have actually visited the wild city. Whitney Lakin brings New Orleans to life in the imagination of her reader as only someone who is intimately familiar with the city could, showing not only its glamour, but also its ugly side. Mutiny in Heaven is a unique story that shows the good and the bad in its characters, accepting both sides as human nature. It would make an excellent addition to any library.

Deus ex Machina Logos by Charles Matthew Sauer*New Review
Xlibris, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-4363-1497-8
Available: New and Used
Deus ex Machina Logos was the hardest book I have ever had to read in this lifetime. The story was supposed to be about a haunted book but the only thing that left me haunted was that it took me a few months to get through the book. I like a story that unfolds naturally and makes sense, but this one rambled on about things in a philosophical manner. The story follows Cecilia and Justin, who travel to the Rocky Mountains to search for a secret book. They stay with Matthew who turns out to be quite the character. The thing I didn't like about this book was that it was difficult to decipher and very hard to understand. I thought maybe it was just me but my mother, who is a huge reader, also read the book, and she didn't get it either. I think the majority of the readers will have the same confused experience I did. Not recommended.

Detective Jack Trent avoids human contact. His mind is tightly bound by logic, but this case tests his limits. Children are being brutally murdered and possibly cannibalized, and Trent discovers that his ex-lover’s son is the killer’s next target. The plot thickens as mysticism, ghosts, a strange cursed community and Jack’s own past draw the threads of the story together, leading to an exciting head. Through A Glass, Darkly has a flavor of evil for every reader. Bill Hussey does an excellent job of making a fantastic story believable. He pulls the reader into accepting that possession is possible, and brings elderly spirits to life. Initially, Hussey presents Jack as an oddity, but a sympathetic character. As the story progresses Hussey reveals Jack’s sinister aspect, keeping the reader in suspense as to whether the evil within the detective will help the villain succeed. I would certainly recommend Through A Glass, Darkly to anyone who loves a good horror novel.

Published as the third part of Earthling’s Halloween series, The Haunted Forest Tour is a creative Halloween tale that revels in fun. It's an extremely well written collaboration that balances horror and comedy perfectly. Earthling outdid them themselves on the look of the book. Glen Chadbourne's paintings on the front and back are worth the price alone, not to mention his artwork throughout.

The story is about a forest that pops out of the New Mexico desert and is populated by monsters of every kind. Its America, so it is not long before capitalism turns it into a theme park. When the train going through the forest breaks down the most effective frights happen, Jurassic Park-style..

This novel is a true Halloween funhouse, set to the page, and is a perfect library book. In fact, I checked this book out at the Portland, Oregon public library. It's a beautiful limited edition from Earthling Publications- collectors and Halloween story fans should not miss this one. If your library has the budget and Earthing is not sold out, seek it out for your patrons now! Highly recommended for public libraries.

Nate Kenyon makes a great debut with this tale of two total strangers thrown together on a cross-country trip, who find that their nightmares are connected with the evil seeping into a small Maine town. Billy and Angel seek to unravel the mystery that began with the town’s founder in 1720, and must close a window through which the dead return to torment their killers. Kenyon also inserts several interesting twists to keep the story fresh.

The tale of a snake demon who preys on the brightest and most creative that humanity has to offer, Serpentine at its heart is a study of our attraction to our own destruction. Sophia, a snake demon, is loosed after a centuries-long imprisonment in an Italian church altar. She romps across Europe before heading to America on a quest to become a media star, leaving a trail of strange deaths behind her. In America, Sophia finally runs into a man who, unlike every other, is not madly attracted to her. His raw creativity calls to her, as does his mysterious immunity to her perfect sex-driven aura.

Unfortunately, Monteleone’s portrayal of Sophia's powers and her natural predation on the human artist falls flat. The reader is kept so far removed from all of the characters that there is no real emotional connection. The depth of the plot isn’t completely revealed until over a hundred pages in, by which point the repetition of “Sophia meets a man- man is overwhelmingly attracted to Sophia- Sophie drains him of his energy and life force” is old. Even the eventual battle between good and evil is rather dispassionate, giving the feeling that's there nothing truly at stake.

Ramsey Campbell is brilliant. No one invokes the atmosphere and sense of impending dread like he does. There are so many layers to the author’s latest masterpiece, The Grin of the Dark. The book’s protagonist, Simon Lester, is a film critic who, in an attempt to provide greater security for his wife and stepson, embarks on a quest to write a biography about an obscure silent film star. What we, the readers, are delivered is a deftly crafted, spiraling tale of madness that escalates throughout the prose. Chillingly wrought, The Grin of the Dark, will surprise and amaze readers as the story unfolds and the layers peel away. Campbell grabs you by the scruff of the neck and drags you slowly through this dark obsession, leaving you with the quiet desperation of a man unraveling before your eyes. In a final masterstroke, you are forced back as an unsettling revelation descends upon you. Truly wonderful and frightening in every sense of the word, The Grin of the Dark is deliciously disturbing. Reader’s advisory note: This book may be enjoyed by fans of thrillers. Highly recommended for public library collections.

Johnny Dove is a writer who has developed a severe case of writer’s block. His publisher is nagging him, but he is just plain stuck until he walks into a little antique store to have a look around. Johnny’s problem is revealed during a casual chat with the shop’s eccentric keeper, who sells him a one of a kind pen, rumored to be haunted. As award winning stories flow from his pen, the spirit haunting the pen consumes him and Johnny gradually begins losing his sanity and well being. As the malevolent spirit takes over Johnny, he relives all of his vicious previous accounts of murder and Satanism. Soon everything Johnny writes begins to happen around him, and he is possessed by a high priest of Satan, who has no qualms about murdering or bringing the dead back to life to do his bidding. This story kept me involved. I didn't want to put it down- I wanted to find out what happened next. Because of its explicit nature, this book may not be appropriate for all libraries or readers, but public libraries building large collections of horror fiction with patrons who enjoy this genre may want to take a look.

Contains: murder, Satanism, religion, sex, violence, sacrifice, and cannibalism
Review by: The Angry Princess

A Wager of Blood is a modern ghost story that takes place in a familiar setting. The New Hampshire Inn was stolen in a fixed game of chance 300 years ago, and since then, the original owners have been trying to reclaim it, reaching out to strangers and family alike with the truth. The story clips along at a nice pace, setting the stage with two couples with strong connections to two other couples killed at the inn's darkest moment. Now the new forms of the couples who died have converged, not quite by chance, at the inn, and the battle between ghost, demon and the living is about to come to a head. A Wager of Blood evokes much the same feel as the movie version of The Haunting, and would draw readers who want a classic ghost story with everyday characters. Recommended for libraries that want a representative selection of horror fiction, without excessively explicit descriptions or "edginess."

Sexually charged and riveting, Brian Keene’s Dark Hollow (originally released as The Rutting Season) is an exciting page-turner. Provocative and lightning paced, the reader is taken on a thrilling ride into LeHorn’s Hollow, where a supernatural entity enflames the passions of the men there and the women begin to mysteriously disappear. With rich characterization (especially in our heroic lead, Adam Senft) and an almost palpable sense of dread that is brought to life by the author’s skillful escalation of the supernatural events that unfold, Dark Hollow does not disappoint. Readers advisory note: this is a good title to recommend to fans of traditional or mainstream horror and mythology.

With crisp, lyrical prose, Richard Dansky has delivered a Southern Gothic ghost story that is, quite frankly, near brilliant. It has everything you could hope for, from evocative atmosphere to a palpable creepiness that keeps the reader on edge from cover to cover. This being Dansky’s first novel, one would expect some growing pains, but you’ll find none of them here. Firefly Rain plays with the reader’s emotions and its pace completely manipulates you, filling you with chills and an impending sense of dread that doesn’t release you till the final page. Richard Dansky has hit a home run. Here’s to hoping that he’ll have many more journeys into the batter’s box. Readers advisory note: Readers who enjoy mysteries tinged with the supernatural may enjoy this book. MonsterLibrarian recommended for public library collections.

Contains: Thrills, chills, and enough edge of your seat angst to satisfy the most jaded of readers. Minor adult language and situations.

Sandra Rixx lost her husband in a terrorist bombing. She hides her heartache by throwing herself into her work. But things have a way of creeping out, and Sandra starts to find signs that Richard has kept his promise to come back to her. Monkey Love is a very subtle, sneaky horror tale. In a genre that loves blood and guts and unrelenting terrors this book has no gore, no violence, just a clenching end that turns what appears to be a straightforward tale into a very clear lesson in horror. Highly recommended for horror collections. Monkey Love is not appropriate for immature readers, but is a stunning example of what a true horror tale can be.

Mister B Gone is the story of the demon Jakabok Botch (or Mister B to his friends) and his life as he and a fellow demon go through Europe in search of world-changing technology. Barker has chosen an interesting way to tell his tale, in that the book itself is the main character. The story begins with the demon asking the reader to burn the book, and end his wretched existence. Within a page or so the book/demon realizes that it won’t be burned without coercing the reader into performing the act and Mister B begins telling the reader the story of his life, how he killed his father, joined another demon in search of world-changing technology, as well as the celestial events that led to his being trapped within the covers of the book. The book/demon continues to ask to be burned throughout the story, and over time “please” changes to promises, and finally to threats. This device, initially interesting, wears thin pretty quickly. Mister B was a study in contrasts, changing often from a vicious, vile creature to a sensitive being and back again. The same contrast is reflected in the storytelling, which ranges from borderline comical to gross and scary. The book is a delight to behold, with pages that appear rustic and worn, and a medieval feel. However, while there are plenty of horror elements, the tone was almost light-hearted, and the contents fell somewhat short on the horror side of things. I would recommend Mister B Gone to anyone looking for a different approach to storytelling. However, those looking for a solid horror novel may want to look elsewhere.

The Shining on the cultural imagination. At its core, Kubrick’s film shows a family in the grips of a haunted hotel, but the book examines a haunted family already suffering from the pain of alcoholism and child abuse even prior to moving in as caretakers of the Overlook Hotel. Originally published in 1977, King’s third novel gives a context to the story of the Torrance family that is absent in the movie. The details about the father, Jack Torrance, that surface in the book, show him as a multidimensional villain rather than a cardboard monster. Should the monster have a back story? Should he have a real life? King, who acknowledges that his creation of Torrance had an important part to play in his development as a writer of horror, answers these questions for himself in The Shining. Readers advisory note: this novel about a haunted hotel and a haunted family is a must-read for King fans and for readers of supernatural and human horror. Highly recommended for public library collections.

The town of Beldam Woods has quite a history. An evil witch, Alvina Bathory, was once hunted down and killed there, and now the witch’s three monstrous sons, Old Bones, Patches, and Mr. Sticks have returned. They intend to bring their mother back from the dead and seek revenge on the ancestors of those who caused her demise. The “good guys” are represented by Beldam’s chief of police, Craig Gallagher, and by three kids named Josh, Jeremy and Melissa. However, they aren’t developed enough for the reader to care what happens to them. It is Alvina Bathory’s sons who really steal the book. Each one has a unique power and point of view, and how the very different brothers interact with each other makes for fascinating reading. One feels that the author could do more with these characters in the future, which seems to be a possibility, as there are some plot threads that are never tied up satisfactorily. In fact, the book begs for a sequel. Moore has written a fast-paced, engaging, and original story. Contains: violence, gore, sexual situations

Mark Conner is a new student at a small college in Louisiana. He is majoring in music where he specializes in piano. There is only one problem- Mark doesn’t have much talent on the piano. When an instructor tells him that he should change his major back to engineering, his hopes for a future as a piano player are crushed. In a desperate act of faith, Mark goes to a graveyard with an occult book and performs a ritual of magic, binding his soul to that off the classical composer and pianist Rachmaninoff. Suddenly Mark can play the piano like a master, learning the most complex of compositions almost on sight. His peers and instructors are amazed. However, being a better piano player isn’t the only change that Mark undergoes. He begins to dress differently, crops his hair, and changes the furniture in his dorm room. His arrogance knows no bounds. In addition, he starts seeing the world through Rachmaninoff’s eyes, as it was years ago. Finally, the ghost itself begins to appear to him, threatening his life. At the brink of success at the Julliard School of Music, Mark loses his tenuous grip on reality and is committed to a mental institution back in Louisiana. Rachmaninoff’s Ghost has a great premise, but the story falls flat, and most characters didn’t feel real or interesting enough to make me care what happened to them. Contains: Gore, Violence, Sex. Review by Bret Jordan.

As the name suggests, Swamp Witch Piquante & Scream Queen Bisque is a book containing two stories. The first is entitled "The White Trash Witches Coven" and the title says it all. The story contains the trashiest, junk food eating, soap opera watching and wild children raising women that I have ever read about. It is a scary and sometimes comical tale of Kieth Ogden’s meeting with an odd witches coven, where spells are cast, incantations are said, and coincidental events occur that are believed to be magic by this motley crew of witches. The second story entitled "Pavane for a Scream Queen" is the tale of freelance writer Jeff Vincent and his quest to get an interview Aurora Sterling, scream queen of the 1950’s classic B-movies. The actress herself is shrouded in mystery, and with good reason. I enjoyed "The White Trash Witches Coven" for the variety of characters in the story. The main character wasn’t particularly appealing, but the witches were great; with their strange and self centered internal politics, their odd views on life and those around them, and their often-loathsome habits I couldn’t help but take an interest in their lives. The second story, "Pavane for a Scream Queen: kept me captivated with its air of mystery. The story almost had a ʽwho done itʼ feel to it that kept me reading to find out what was going on. Both stories also have an essence of Louisiana and New Orleans that gives the book a flavor all of it’s own. I would recommend these two intriguing and entertaining tales to any library.

Jason Brannon presents us with a trio of short stories in Winds of Change . In the title story, a group of everyday people are trapped in a hardware store by a wind that turns those who venture forth into a pile of salt. It is up to Matt the store manager to find out who or what is the cause of the wind and keep his customers alive. In the next story, "Quartet," four musicians who have survived the attack of a seaside conservatory by sea creatures discover that the only thing keeping the monsters at bay is their music. The quartet of musicians must find a way to escape before they collapse from exhaustion. Finally, in "Graffiti," a homeless man wandering the streets meets a young man with vengeance on his mind who has the ability to bring forth voodoo spirits with his graffiti. The two men quickly learn that there is danger in using the occult for revenge when one of the spirits breaks free and starts to kill innocents. Winds of Change is a refreshing series of original stories written with obvious talent. The stories are interesting and engaging and will keep the reader turning pages to see what happens next. I look forward to Brannon's next work. Recommended for public libraries. Contains: Violence, a little gore.

Dead Sea by Tim Curran
Elder Signs Press, 2007
ISBN: 0977987655
Available: New
When George boarded the Mara Corday as part of a construction crew building an airstrip in French New Guinea he never knew the terror that would await him. As the ship enters a mysterious fog bank on the edge of the Sargasso Sea, it is damaged in a freak accident, and the survivors discover that the fog has transported them to a world filled with predatory monsters straight from a madman's nightmares. Dead Sea is a very dense book, with the bulk of it following two different groups of survivors who must deal not only with otherworldly monstrosities but also with each other as they descend slowly into madness. Curran creates a number of new and deadly creatures in his book, which at times has the feel of Stephen King’s short story "The Mist," fleshed out more fully. Curran also does a fantastic job of creating an atmosphere filled with fog, gloom, and decay. The main flaw to the story is the interaction between the construction crew foreman, Saks, and his band of survivors, Saks is constantly trading insults and making obnoxious sexual comments. The constant never ending stream of offensive language can be tiring and distracting. Regardless, Dead Sea is one of the best horror titles released so far in 2007 and is definitely worth being added to a public library collection. Recommended. Contains: Language, Gore, Violence, Murder

After Murray Macabe's mother is murdered, he is torn away from his hometown and best friend, and sent to live with his grandmother in the small town of Miniver, Minnesota. There are no other children in Miniver, and his grandmother's neighbors seem to be creepy and sinister geriatrics. Murray is swept up in mystery and magic, with sinister implications. Hintz is skilled at creating creepy and horrific scenes, especially at the beginning of the book, when Murray has visions of being stalked by his mother's murderer. However, the story as a whole seems disjointed. The first 85 pages of the book concern the murder of Murray's mother and the visions he has of her murderer. Once Murray arrives in Miniver, this story thread is abandoned for the events that take place there, without any explanation. This lengthy build up to the events in the second two thirds of the story left this reader scratching his head. Since the first third of the book doesn't concern Miniver at all, the events there seem rushed, and the characters and setting aren't fully developed. This makes understanding the events and motivations of characters in the story's climax extremely challenging. S.D. Hintz is clearly a talented writer, with the ability to draw the reader in and capture a scene in vivid detail, and I look forward to seeing him hone his storytelling and his craft. Contains: violence, human sacrifice, arson.

Amber is a newlywed who is starting to have horrifying visions of young women murdered in bloody and disturbing ways. As the visions get worse, they take their toll on her, and she contacts her friend Natalie to help her uncover their meaning. The story at its heart is a good creepy little story that needs some work. One of the challenges of a book this brief, is that every word and every character must count and contribute meaningfully to the story. However, Natalie's addition, and the time and space devoted to developing her character, does not contribute significantly enough to the story to justify the time and space allotted to her. Ultimately, Natalie does not do anything in the story that Amber can't do herself. Natalie also introduces a storyline that does not appear to be related directly to Amber's problem. She is trying to solve the ten year old gruesome murder of a former high school classmate. Her motivation to do this seems pretty thin, and the plot thread is left unresolved for her. Wedding Bells, Tortured Souls would have benefited from using the time and space devoted to developing Natalie to flesh out Amber's character. Still, this is a chilling little story, and readers looking for a quick fix will feel enjoyable shivers. Contains: Murder, a scene of torture

Sole Survivor by Dean R. Koontz *New Review

Alfred A. Knopf, 1997

ISBN: 0679425268

Available: New and Used

Joe Carpenter has been a broken man since his wife and two girls died in a catastrophic plane crash. Rose Tucker, a survivor of the plane crash, changes his outlook. However, Joe isn’t the only one interested in her. A company called Teknologik wants her dead, and for some reason they now want Joe dead as well. Joe’s curiosity leads him to find other people who have lost relatives in the plane crash. As he finds them he realizes that Rose has already talked to them, and given them a comfort about the crash that is almost supernatural. Adding to the mystery, these people begin to commit suicide in the most brutal of fashions. A corporate cover up that, once known to the public, will change humanity, is also thrown into the mix. Full of action, mystery, and horror, Sole Survivor is a roller coaster ride almost from the very start. Full of action, Joe is well-presented as a man without hope or faith, who just wants it all to be over, until Rose gives him hope and a belief in something greater. The only thing about the book that I didn’t care for was the way clues seemed to be almost deliberately withheld. Sole Survivor is a great read, recommended as a fine addition to any public or private library.

Contains: Gore, Violence, Suicide

The Commandments is a unique collection of ten loosely connected short stories. The main story arc concerns Reverend Conway’s recent purchase from the holy land, an ancient copy of the Ten Commandments. The only problem is that this particular copy has a curse attached to it, causing the members of his congregation to become involved in mayhem, the supernatural, and murder. Each story concerns one of the Ten Commandments and the consequences of breaking it. In “No Other Gods,” the defacing of the Madonna has results the vandal could not have foreseen. In the story “Graven Image,” a wife’s statue of the Indian deity Kali turns out to be more than it seems. In “The Name,” a boy’s insistence on using God’s name in vain has an ironic outcome. In “Them Dry Bones,” a gravedigger who has decided to work on the Sabbath digs up more than he bargained for. “The Void” is about a girl who doesn’t honor her father or her mother, resulting in a dreadful outcome. In “Hogwash,” a farmer accidentally kills a man and decides to cover his tracks, only to suffer a similar fate. “The Parting Gift” is about a man who is unfaithful to his wife with a prostitute only to find out that the prostitute is no longer satisfied with just money. “Handy’s Pawn & Gold” is about a thief who gets his hand caught in the cookie jar. In “Retriever,” two old men, who have been like brothers since childhood have an argument that results in a disappearance. Finally, “Keeping Up With the Joneses” is the story of a man who covets another man’s possessions, but when he actually gets those possessions wishes that he hadn’t. Although the stories are loosely connected by the main story arc and the collection’s theme, each story can also stand on its own. Recommended for personal and public libraries. Review by Bret Jordan

In Darkness Wakes, family man Aaron Rittinger gives in to his desires and joins his neighbor Caroline, who he has been secretly lusting after for years, at a sex club called Penumbra. Once in Penumbra, Aaron learns that the club centers around a Cthulhu-esque entity called the Overshadow, which gives the members of Penumbra physical pleasure in return for human sacrifice. Aaron is immersed in a world of intense pleasure and human sacrifice, and must find a way to escape before it costs him and his family their lives. Waggoner has offered up a tale filled with sex and gore that would make any splatterpunk fan happy. The story is a strong one, but most of the characters, with the exception of Aaron’s wife and children, are unsympathetic. Still, readers will find it easy to relate to Aaron’s weakness and will feel for him as he deals with the horrific unintended consequences of his actions. An interesting aspect of Darkness Wakes is the inclusion of Aaron’s dead father, as it is unclear whether his appearance is real or a hallucination caused by the Overmind. Fans of Edward Lee, Richard Laymon, and John Skipp will enjoy Darkness Wakes. Contains: many strong sexual passages, gore, violence

The Harrowing by Alexandra Sokoloff *New Review
St. Martin’s Press, 2006
ISBN: 0312357486
Available: New and Used
Alexandra Sokoloff presents the reader with a good old fashioned ghost story. A group of five Baird College students have decided to stay at school over Thanksgiving Break. Robin Stone, the protagonist, is a shy student who is seeking to avoid the pains of going home by staying on campus. The other four students have a familiar feel- the jock, the musician, the flirtatious tease, the scholar- but the characters are engaging and have been crafted to transcend these stereotypes. The five students release something unexpected after experimenting with a Ouija board, and must then determine whether the strange events that they experience are in their minds or something more ominous and supernatural. Sokoloff has a talent for successfully creating mood and atmosphere that will draw the reader in and leave you with goosebumps. The pacing of the story is brisk and will keep the reader breathless. Recommended as a core supernatural title in a public library’s horror fiction collection. Contains: violence, murder, a scene of supernatural rape.

Mind’s Eye is an effective tale of high school horror, successfully recreating the high school atmosphere of the 1980s. High school student Steve Norton finds himself thrust into a nightmare after an encounter with a creature who can take illusionary form. The creature goes on a rampage, killing several students in the town. Steve and two other students who have survived the monster try to solve its mystery and stop it before it kills again. Reading the story is like watching a train wreck in slow motion as Steve goes from being a generally liked good student with a girlfriend to that of a social pariah. The female characters have this habit for being used or abused by men in the book, which can be frustrating to witness in the book. An overall good read, with an original plot, Mind’s Eye is a good choice for an afternoon’s reading. There is a minor plot point that could use further elaboration, yet overall Philip Henry does a fine job developing his characters and one truly feels bad for Steve as his life goes from bad to worse. Mind’s Eye is written for an adult audience, but young adults might find it interesting as well. Recommended Contains: violence, minor sexual situations.

When women who take to following the local professional wrestling shows start ending up dead and raped in that order, it is up to a police officer, Straker and a reporter, Melinda, to track down the serial killer. The prime suspect is the mysterious Goon, a professional bad guy wrestler to seems to enjoy receiving vast amounts of pain and punishment during his matches, as he is able to take blows that would normally break bones and kill men. Lee and Pelan have written a book that has a very interesting story line at its core, and the combination of wrestling and horror is a creative combination, but the vast number of sexually explicit scenes through out the book really detract from the core story. Many of these passages are not erotic or enticing but would fall under the heading of repulsive and vulgar. It would be great to see a cleaned up version of Goon. There is a good and creative story presented, it just is mired in over the top sex that adds nothing to the story but will certainly limit its audience. The book is not appropriate for young adults or children and many adults. Contains: violence, gore, many sexually explicit passages.

In The Long Last Call, John Skipp sends his reader to an isolated strip joint where the usual routine between the dancers and regular patrons is turned upside down. A mysterious stranger arrives with lots of cash and a touch that brings out a person's "true self," which, when it comes to the employees and patrons of the strip club, can be pretty ugly. It is up to Mom, the sister of the owner, who takes care of the strippers, to try to survive the night, which results in an ultimate battle between good and evil. Skipp has provided us with a story that moves at an incredibly fast pace once the setting and characters have been established, and includes a healthy (or unhealthy, depending on your point of view) dose of sex and violence. The story works very well and is a quick and entertaining read. Fans of Skipp's earlier work, Edward Lee, or Richard Laymon will enjoy The Long Last Call. Libraries and librarians will need to be aware, before recommending Skipp's book as part of readers advisory, that the quantity of graphic sex and violence in the book this book will not be to all horror readers' taste. Skipp is a solid and talented writer but his material is not for all audiences. Contains: violence, gore, sexual passages, sexual violence.

Every Halloween, a small Midwestern town locks away teenage boys for five days with nothing to eat just with a little water, to prime them for a hunt known as the Run. The October Boy, a supernatural creature with a pumpkin head, candy in his body, and a very large knife, is raised to be hunted. The boy who catches and kills the October Boy gets to leave the town with pockets full of money. Pete McCormick, a loner who seeks to flee his little town, soon finds out that the Run is not what he thought it was. Partridge has written a solid and entertaining Halloween tale. He has created a sympathetic character with Pete McCormick, with the reader rooting for him to survive the night and the Run. This tale is a well-paced and engrossing read, although it leaves the reader calling for more background on the town and for the origin of the Run and the October Boy. Dark Harvest has been named one of the "Best Books of the Year" by Publisher's Weekly. Recommended . May also be appropriate for older teens. Contains: violence and a little gore.

Available: New and Used
Renowned author Vida Winter has told many tales about her past, all of them contradictory. Close to death, she contacts Margaret Lea, who reluctantly agrees to be her biographer. Vida’s tale at first seems like another one of her fantastic stories, but her fairytale beginning has a sense of foreboding and as the layers peel away, the creepiness of the story draws Margaret, and the reader, in. Vida’s words slowly reveal a family destroyed by unhappy love, disturbing obsessions, psychosis, incest, insanity, and murder. Twin girls abandoned to their own devices, without any moral center, are tied together in an unhealthy relationship that cannot be severed even by the science of a new governess and the family doctor, and the unnerving appearance of ghosts leaves even the most rational person shaken. Vida’s story uses many conventions of the gothic novel, and the book has been described as a love letter to the genre. However, Vida’s story is not the entire story- Margaret’s story is the frame, so there is more going on than a simple homage. Setterfield has written an intelligent, mesmerizing novel that provides a fresh twist to conventions of literature that have started to seem a little tired. Entry by Francesca the Librarian.
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Set in Australia, Ek Chuah has three subplots, all surrounding an ancient Mayan goddess looking to create chaos. The first thread is that of Pete and Al, Pete sets his socially awkward friend Al up up on a blind date with Amber, an exotic and mysterious woman. The second thread follows Constable Ted Denebrae who is trying to track down a serial killer who has slain multiple police officers and is able to be shot without dying or stopping, and the third thread involves a gang that goes into a local nightclub looking for money and is thrust into confrontation with a vile monster. The author, James R. Cain, does a great job of developing his character and writes some engrossing action scenes that keep the reader riveted to the book. Where Ek Chuah falls flat is in tying these different story threads together. The connections of the three subplots are frustratingly unclear, leaving the reader with the desire for the titular Mayan goddess to go on a James Bond villianesque rant that explains how everything is interconnected clearly. At the finish, the reader may say "I think I know how this all fits together," but the lack of a clear tie in leave a lingering doubt in the back of the head. Contains: sexual passages, gore, passages of violence.

Scream Queen is a haunted house story. Jody and five other contestants are participating in a reality television show called Scream Queen. The show is the brainchild of the Gowan brothers, producers of grade B horror movies. The Gowans, looking to make the show as authentic as possible, have tracked down a real haunted house, where the tormented spirits have been waiting to unleash their fury on any who would disturb them. Scream Queen is a very capable bit of brain candy, and it's easy to see how this could be turned into a movie. It does take a little while for the action to start, but once it does, it is an enjoyable ride. I would recommend Scream Queen as part of a public library’s horror collection. Contains: violence and some gore.

Demon Theory is written as a film treatment for a trilogy of movies. The first film introduces Hale and his fellow med student friends, on their way to Hale's mother's secluded house. It is Halloween night and they are trapped by a winter storm. The body count rises as a nightmare from Hale's past returns. The next "movie" follows the demons as they infiltrate a local hospital, resulting in a great amount of blood. The third "movie" has us returning to Hale's secluded house in the country. The story is strong and well-paced, and the writing of the book as a film treatment guides readers' imaginations, so they can see the story played out as a movie in their minds. Jones' book is filled with entertaining and informative footnotes that identify film terms used throughout the book, and also the various pop culture and horror movie references scattered throughout the book. Where other books might inspire the reader's imagination Demon Theory guides the reader's vision. Demon Theory is a smart, unusual, and very enjoyable read. The book is a recommended addition to a horror collection. Contains: Violence and passages of gore.

Christopher Alan Broadstone's first horror novel is Puzzleman, a story about how an artist, her ex-husband, and their teacher/ mentor have come to the attention of the Puzzleman, also known as Conundrum. Puzzleman exists in a realm called Pipeworld, which Broadstone describes in horrific vivid detail. Puzzleman is not a quick read, while some of the other books I have reviewed have sped along carrying the reader with it, Puzzleman tends to slowly drag you through the gore as Broadstone describes the nightmare that he puts his characters through. Most telling is Broadstone's description of the unraveling of the life of Amanda , an artist, whose son had died of SIDS and her ex-husband leaves her leaving her prey to the Puzzleman. There is also an assortment of other characters including a PI and an art professor who find themselves in a quest to stop the Puzzleman. There has obviously been a great deal of time and thought put into Broadstone's titular creature with an in depth history of Conundrum's activity over the span of time. Puzzleman is strong first novel from Broadstone and I am anxious to see what he comes up with next. Contains: violence, passages of explicit gore and sex. Puzzleman is a Shockline's new voice guarantee, it can be bought here.

Leisure Books, May, 2005
ISBN: 0843954108
The Abandoned is the latest installment in Douglas Clegg's Harrow House series. The story takes place in the small town of Watch Point, which is by the haunted mansion called Harrow House. After a young boy is murdered in the graveyard next to Harrow House and a strange man who is known as the Nightwatchman comes to guard the houses' grounds, the deepest darkest desires of the residents of Watch Point are brought to life, leading to murder, torture, and general insanity. It is up to a small group of survivors to stop the madness that the house has unleashed against the town. Clegg does a fantastic and disturbing job of painting a town gone mad. Although the series of events that sets the story in motion seemed unclear and I am not sure exactly what has happened at the end, the middle is a heck of a ride. Other books in the Harrow House series are Mischief (2000) The Infinite (2001), Nightmare House (2004). Contains: Murder, scenes torture, gore, some scenes of strong sexual imagery.

Life is just a little too strange for Damara. She has the supernatural ability to make other people's dreams, fantasies, and thoughts turn into reality. The problem is she has no control over how her power manifests. When her old boyfriend comes to town, Damara loses the ability to block her power and the wishes of her neighbors on Pandora Drive start to come true with deadly results. Pandora Drive is a clever story . Its greatest strength is Waggoner's depiction of the residents of Pandora Drive. It is easy to imagine these people in your own neighborhood. Kenneth, an older man who has an unhealthy sex drive, adds a disturbing element to the story when his fantasies lead to rather nasty scenes of sexual violence. It is a vicious add in to a series of horrific events caused by the thoughts of the various neighbors. Reading this book will get you thinking about what really goes on inside the heads of your own neighbors. Contains: Scene of rape, violence, and gore.

Two enjoyable little stories in one book. The primary story is the titled The Attraction which is about a group of college kids taking a spring break drive to California only to get lost in the desert where they come upon a small gas station that has an attraction of an ancient small mummy. They end up stealing the mummy and accidentally reanimating it and it proceeds to attack the group. The story is well written old fashion monster story it is relatively short, but of the appropriate length to tell the tale. Clegg is an excellent writer and is able to flesh out his characters so that when the carnage starts you care about the victims. Clegg includes the novella Necromancer which tells of the introduction of one of the occult to the patriarch of the Gravesend family a solid entry to the Harrow House series. Contains: Violence and scene of rape.

Available: New and Used
Nothing like a good old haunted house story. The book is set in the 1920s. Ethan Gravesend inherits Harrow House, a mansion, from his great-grandfather. As soon as he arrives he finds that he is besieged by the supernatural. He dedicates himself to finding out the secret of Harrow House, which will change his life forever. This is my first exposure to Douglas Clegg's writing and I am very impressed, he has a talent for creating a creepy atmosphere and his use of imagry keeps you glued to the story. The book is a prequel to Mischief (2000) and The Infinite (2001), the other two books in the Harrow House series. A good fun read that goes by quickly. Contains: Violence.

Demons by John Shirley
Del Rey, February, 2002
ISBN: 034544647X
Demons tells the tale of a struggle between a group of rich corporate types who are causing industrial accidents with mass casualties in order to summon forth demons from another dimension and harness their powers to obtain immortality, and a group of mystics who seek the betterment of mankind and who are out to oppose them. This is a fascinating little apocalyptic type story that feels like it could have been made a little shorter. It is one of the more interesting end of the world stories that I read in a long time. Contains some gore, a little sex.

Darkfall by Stephen Laws
Leisure Books, May, 2003
ISBN: 0843952180
Stephen Laws presents an excellent tale of the horror that occurs when a special type of thunderstorm, known as Darkfall, strikes an office building where the occupants are having a Christmas party. When lightning strikes the building, the occupants disappear and it is up to local constable to find out what happened to the occupants and survive the Darkfall storm. Laws writes a very tight and well paced story that keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. This is another recommended read. Contains violence.

Orangefield by Al Sarrantonio

In the little town of Orangefield, bloody and terrible events seem to occur every Halloween, inspired by Samhain, the Celtic Lord of Death. This Halloween, Samhain is once again looking to spread death in Orangefield, using some of the residents as his tools. Orangefield is a character driven book and Al Sarrantonio makes the characters come to life for the reader. It is the seduction and manipulation of these residents of Orangefield by Samhain that is so fascinating to read as he drives them to murder and suicide. Orangefield becomes a setting for other Sarrantonio's books and novellas such as The Hornets and Pumpkin Boy. I would recommend Orangefield and look forward to reading more of the Orangefield set books. Contains violence and suicide.

In Messenger, the fallen angel Aldezhor who is the messenger for the Devil has come to the post office in the little town of Danelleton, Florida. There Aldezhor drives the staff postal (oh I had to put the horrid pun in, I had to) inspiring them to go on killing sprees and commit suicide when their job is done. It is up to the head of the post office Jane Ryan to discover what is happening before she falls victim to the Messenger. Lee put together a very intense story that moves along very quickly. The story contains a number of scenes of sexual violence and gore. I would encourage librarians to be cautious when recommending this book, Lee while a talented writer tends to write his tales with graphic sex and violence. Readers who enjoy Richard Laymon probably enjoy Lee's books.


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