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Book Review: Darling by Brad Hodson

Darling by Brad C. Hodson

Bad Moon Books, 2012

ISBN-13: 978-0-9884478-1-3

Available: Used paperback, Kindle edition

 

At its heart, Darling is a classic haunted house novel. It doesn’t cross genres, or break any daring new ground, but that’s okay. It centers around Raynham Place, an apartment complex built on land that has a history of violence and death going back more than a century; t was the site of a Civil War battlefield, and then became a tuberculosis hospital. This setting might sound like old hat, but it is created with style and unfolds perfectly within the plot. Although the story takes place in the present, the classic haunted atmosphere has a great 80’s horror novel feel— similar to books published under Dell’s Abyss imprint (I loved many novels in that line…reading this novel is like slipping on a favorite old shirt.)

 

The story begins when Dennis decides that his younger friend, Mike, move into Raynham Place. Once in the building, they start to notice strange things afoot. The behavior of the main characters begins to change, and the building’s past is slowly divulged. Hodson’s timely uncovering of the elements of his plot, from the background of the building, to the personal history between the main characters, is carefully revealed to perfect effect. This extended suspense, combined with Hodson’s gift for super creepy tone, makes the whole thing work perfectly. Darling is an excellent horror novel, and readers who are looking for a fresh voice telling classic-style horror tales have a new author to check out. Highly recommended.

 

Contains: violence and psychological terror.

Reviewed by David Agranoff

 


Posted on July 16, 2014 by , Reply

Book Review: In Hell by L. Marshall James

In Hell by L. Marshall James

Highwater Publishing, 2013

ASIN: B00E5MWIRC

Available: Kindle

 

Paul is just your average young American guy living in Pittsburgh; he loves his family, but spends little time with them. He has a decent job that he automatically dislikes. He tries to eat healthy, but usually goes the route of fast food and beer. He enjoys guns, sports, women, and one hobby that borders on childish obsession: Zombies. He grew up watching legions of zombies terrorize the earth in countless movies. He collected posters, action figures, undead memorabilia, and amassed a small weapons stash, preparing for the imaginary possibility of defending himself and his loved ones from the brain eaters. It was all good fun until he wakes one day to discover his fantasy is now real; zombies are everywhere.

The basic premise is good; an escape-to-a-better-place survival story. The characters have distinct voices, and I didn’t have trouble following them. The action is well described, very graphic and “in your face”, and I liked the twist at the end, which got me thinking a bit as I neared the finish. James has a good way of explaining how the Zombiepocalypse started and what the implications of it would be.

Unfortunately, the first person point of view, with so many sentences starting with “I,” became tiresome and actually got in the way of the story. There were also some typographical errors scattered throughout– not the worst I’ve read, but noticeable. In Hell was an okay read.

 

Contains:  Graphic Gore and violence, sexual situations, profanity.

Reviewed By:  Aaron Fletcher

 

A note from the editor: If you are curious about this book PLEASE use our link to find it. Searching Amazon for the book by title did not, for some reason, pull it up.

Posted on July 16, 2014 by , Reply

Book Review: Huntress Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff

Huntress Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013

ISBN-13: 978-1491046883

Available: Paperback, Kindle, Audible Book, Digital Lending

 

For those fans of Alexandra Sokoloff’s supernatural gems, such as The Harrowing, The Price, or The Unseen, this thriller (book 1 of The Huntress/FBI Thrillers) will illuminate another facet of this talented author’s skills. For those who are tired of the serial killer novel,  give this one a shot and be prepared to shed preconceptions of the subgenre.  The concept of a female serial killer is relatively untouched territory, with only a couple of other quality entries in modern literature. Sokoloff creates a killer who is complex enough to be real, rising above any tropes, but is stone cold in her methods. Peeling away the layers of this character is worth the price of the book itself, but like any of her novels, Sokoloff presents quite an enjoyable story, as well.

With her background in screenwriting, one might be quick to worry that her books might be static, or lack the three-dimensional quality necessary for a knockout novel. Sokoloff, however, also has a background in theater, and her ability to emote from the point of view of  any of her characters is uncanny. She truly is ‘inside their heads’. To live within the killer’s head is chilling, yet, at times, touching and thought provoking.

The story itself? FBI Agent Matthew Roarke watches a fellow agent become a hood ornament for a passing bus– just a moment after he appears to hear a woman say something to him. The woman disappears into the crowd, leaving readers with the feeling she is somehow familiar. The hunt is on, and it’s far from cliché.

We find the “Huntress” wandering on a beach, where she meets a recently divorced man and his young child. What ensues is unexpected, and ratchets up the suspense to that intense level readers expect of Sokoloff’s horror. While Huntress Moon is not, strictly speaking, a horror novel, terror like this should be found in any psychological thriller worth its salt. The cat and mouse game is nothing new, but Sokoloff’s lean writing mesmerizes the reader; her style quickly captivates and intrigues. Her settings are vividly painted in a manner usually reserved for books that spend many more pages on scenery development. If  a reader’s tastes run towards dark thrillers with fully fleshed-out characters, and stories that keep the neurons firing long after the covers have shut, then this series is for you.

Highly recommended for high school to adults

Reviewed by David Simms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on July 3, 2014 by , Reply
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