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Book Review: Demons Among Us by W.E. Zazo-Phillips

Demons Among Us By W.E. Zazo-Phillips

K Studio,  2010

ISBN: 978-0984194520

Available: New

 

Demons Among Us is the first book in a trilogy. The story follows Elizabeth Townsend, a Coast Guard officer serving on the cutter Surveyor when the end of the world occurs.  What appears to be a virus has attacked a boy in Albany.  When a priest is called in by his mother, who fears it’s actually a demon possession, the demons infecting the boy discover they can move from person to person through blood.  They spread like wildfire and civilization is brought to the brink of extinction, with the infected running in packs like wild animals, killing everyone it their path.  Elizabeth and her crewmates are brought to a secure facility so they can contact any surviving family members and make preparations to be taken to the West.

 

Five years after the infection, Elizabeth is living in a commune in the desert.  Run by what’s left of the U.S. Military, the commune is one of many scattered throughout the Western United States. The communes are segregated according to gender, with the main job of the women being reproduction.  We discover that Elizabeth is a sensor—someone who can detect an infected person.  Unfortunately for her, there are people in the remaining government who wish to exploit that ability.  While at a major conference, Elizabeth discovers this plot to use her, and decides to go on the run.  Unknown to most of the people living in the communes, there are scattered communities of uninfected people living beyond the reach of the military.  What will Elizabeth find?

 

This is a brilliant story—demon possession that spreads like a virus.  It’s not overtly religious, but there are references to Christianity, with the communes being named after books of the Bible, and the Biblical quote “I am Legion…we are many”.  There are also people who can make holy water, which rids the demons from the body without killing the possessed.  The characters are well-developed and the story itself is well-written.  I also enjoyed the fact that our “hero” is a strong female.  There are a few mysteries left to be played out, which really holds my interest.  There are two other novellas to come, and I am looking forward to reading them.  Demons Among Us is quite the page-turner. Highly recommended.

Contains: adult language, cannibalism and sexual themes

Reviewed by Colleen Wanglund

Posted on September 21, 2018 by , Reply

Book Review: Terror Is Our Business: Dana Roberts’ Casebook of Horror by Joe R. Lansdale and Kasey Lansdale

Terror Is Our Business: Dana Roberts’ Casebook of Horror by Joe R. Lansdale & Kasey Lansdale

Cutting Block Press, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-1732009004

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

Now there are two Lansdales writing– watch out world! Joe’s readers know that the man branches out into whatever direction he wishes to, and most often, succeeds.

His daughter Kasey, a very talented singer/songwriter, brings a breath of fresh air with her as she joins her father in this collection, which defies simple categorization.

Dana and Jana are investigators of the “supernormal,” but very different in their approaches. Dana’s is reminiscent of Lovecraft and Holmes, while Jana is more of a Scully/Buffy character.

Dana (written by Joe) enters an old men’s club that will remind many of the Chowder Society (the group of fogies from Peter Straub’s Ghost Story), who sit back and entertain themselves with scintillating tales of the weird. She has been summoned to share her adventures, which she terms “supernormal,” since she believes everything under the sun can be explained– somehow. While she begins slowly and properly, her stories eventually become less restrained and more colorful.

Jana (penned by Kasey) kicks off the second half of the book. These accounts lighten the mood and leave the reader wanting more. By comparison, Joe’s stories feel almost stiff and forced, a possible homage to classic styles of Doyle, Lovecraft, and Machen. Jana is the Mulder to Dana’s Scully, more Kolchak than Holmes, and a great foil to Dana’s character.

Since Lansdale is notorious for falling for characters and having them reappear in subsequent books, we can hope to see Dana and Jana again. Recommended for any fan of good storytelling.

 

Posted on September 19, 2018 by , Reply

Book Review: Blood Crimes, Book One by Dave Zeltserman

Blood Crimes: Book One by Dave Zeltserman

Amazon Digital Services, 2010

Available: New

ISBN: Kindle Edition

Jim thought when he escaped from Serena, the vampire that turned him, he would be free of her and her companion, Metcalf, but he hasn’t been that lucky. Jim and his girlfriend Carol keep moving on to new cities, Jim feeding on the dregs of society, with Carol acting as bait. Serena has continued to search for Jim since his escape. She sets a private investigator on Jim, and his feeding pattern is discovered, leading Serena right to him. While Serena is occupied with Jim, Metcalf has continued to carry out his sadistic experiments. A vampire himself, Metcalf wants to know exactly what can and cannot kill a vampire. His tortuous experiments are carried out on people he has infected. Those poor individuals deemed unworthy to be turned are instead forced to be “cattle”. Strong language, gore, violence, and sexual situations give the first book in Dave Zeltserman’s series a high-octane feel. The fight scenes are graphic and leave you feeling as breathless as the characters. Highly recommended.

Contains: Strong language, gore, violence, and some sexual situations.

Reviewed by: Brandi Blankenship

Posted on September 13, 2018 by , Reply
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