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Book Review: 12 Hours (Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena #2) by L. Marie Wood

Cover art for 12 Hours by L. Marie Wood

12 Hours (Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena #2) by L. Marie Wood

Raw Dog Screaming Press, 2024

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1947879652

Available:  Paperback, Kindle edition

Buy:  Bookshop.org |  Amazon.com

 

Series editor RJ Joseph prefaces 12 Hours by explaining that the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena publishes its Selected Papers when it finds evidence that something  “unattainable or previously disbelieved” has become reality, and introducing L. Marie Wood as an established academic and creative writer.

 

Wood’s creativity and mastery of the uncanny are evident in this stream-of-consciousness narrative of thoughts and observations by a foulmouthed cabbie attacked late at night by addicts in ski masks, and the aftermath. This is horror of the ordinary: events like this happen every day, although not from this particular point of view. Wood gives us clues to what is happening while revealing the cabbie to the reader as a complex and nuanced character with strong emotions, and using minute details to describe his state of being and the world he experiences. The novella length is perfect for this story focused on one character and what he goes through in a very short length of time, although the very end may frustrate some readers. It’s’ difficult to say more without spoiling the story and much of what makes it a fascinating read, so you’ll have to read it yourself to discover that.  Recommended.

 

 

Reviewed by Kirsten Kowalewski

 

Posted on August 3, 2024 by , Reply

Book Review: F.U.B.B by Daniel Volpe, Candace Nola, and Jasper Bark (Dark Tide Horror Novellas Book 14)

F.U.B.B. by Daniel Volpe, Candace Nola, and Jasper Bark (Dark Tide Horror Novellas Book 14)

Crystal Lake Publishing, 2024

ISBN: 9781957133928

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

Buy: Amazon.com

 

 

If you’re going to title a book F*cked Up Beyond Belief, you had better back it up.  And man, do they ever in this one.  These three hardcore novellas are exactly that: blood-drenched gorefests, with excellent stories and writing to boot.  These are like Eli Roth films, the main difference being these actually have good plots and are addicting to read.  Let’s look at the basics, shall we?

 

“Church of the Splatter Spray Saints” is a crazed take on modern tent-pole revivals, although the basic theme fits with some real-life ones, like ‘screwing the people for fun and profit (mainly profit).’  In this case, the revival is run by organized crime, and they have a sentient virus to contend with that may bring the whole house down.  For a horror novella, it has a fairly intricate plot, and all the pieces fit perfectly.  Body parts fly and pain abounds as people pay to witness voluntary suicides, all in the name of worshipping the Blood.  Totally screwed up, and totally fun.

 

“Double Feature” is my personal favorite.  Combine a typical Friday night at a hick town drive-in with a group of redneck nuts somewhat resembling the lunatics from the movie Wrong Turn, and you have a story, and a  very well written one it is.  A good setup and absolutely breakneck pace keep this one firing till the end.  It’s frightening to think of any people actually being like the antagonists in this one: they have absolutely no remorse for the warped things they do.  And, their motive?  Money.  The best part is that author Candace Nola excels in misdirection.  Every time you expect the story to zig, it zags instead, right to the hilariously ironic ending.

 

“The Chatter of the Night Bugs”: is an agonizing story of “white trash”, snuff films, and black magic.  Fair warning: this one is the most difficult to read of the three. The torture sequences are brutal, made all the worse by the fact that you care about the victim in this one.  However, payback is a wonderful thing, and old mountain magic provides the means for punishing the evildoers a hundred times over, in the form of bugs, and… something else.  This was a creative take on old Appalachian legends.  Revenge has never been sweeter than in this story.

 

The ol’ bottom line? This book should win some sort of award for best horror story collection this year.  For horror fans in general, and gorehounds in particular, this is a can’t miss.  Highly recommended (to those with a strong stomach, that is).

 

 

Reviewed by Murray Samuelson

 

Posted on June 18, 2024 by , Reply

Book Review: Night Shadows by Stephen L. Brayton

cover art for Night Shadows by Stephen Brayton

Night Shadows by Stephen L. Brayton

Black Rose Writing, 2024

ISBN: 9781685134143

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com

 

 

Night Shadows fits perfectly in the B level ranks of horror fiction.  There is nothing really new or unique in it, but it’s sure entertaining, and enough to keep the pages flipping.  It’s a decent one for a few hours of horror escapism.

 

The ingredients that make up the story are all ones you’ve seen, many times.  Weird, killer creatures?  Got it.  Two mismatched law enforcement agents?  Yep, it’s here.  A book of black magic styled after the Necronomicon, and an eccentric professor to explain it all?  Check.  Plot twist at the end that can be guessed?  That’s here too.  All the usual elements, but still fun when used well, which the author does.  There’s enough go-juice in the writing to keep the reader’s interest and the pages moving, just not at the “up all night” (sleep all day) level.

 

The best parts of the book are probably the night shadows (the book’s antagonists) and the cop on cop interplay.  The shadows are nasty fun and do a good job wreaking bloody havoc around Des Moines, Iowa, as they multiply the city’s homicide rate exponentially over the course of a few nights.  The book is messy enough for the gorehounds, especially when the strip club gets trashed. The mismatched cops bit works well, with Detective Reznick’s sarcastic, everyday-joe attitude paired with Agent Campisi’s Vulcan-like demeanor.  Everything goes smoothly in the story, until it purrs comfortably across the finish line of its 236 pages.  If a bit of touch-up could have been used anywhere, it would be with the mystery element.  The idea of a house being present that has no business existing was excellent, and could have used some more elaborating.

 

Bottom line, In the Night Shadows is not a must-buy, but it is a fun read. if you have the spare cash, give it a look, and enjoy watching the city’s darkness tear apart its inhabitants.

 

Reviewed by Murray Samuelson

 

 

Posted on June 16, 2024 by , Reply
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