In an eerie, post-apocalyptic world resulting from an alien invasion, day is indistinguishable from night and the sky is composed of ever present eyes looking down. Modern conveniences of technology and climate control are lost, and previously harmless animals have transformed into aggressive mutations. Humans resort to murder and cannibalism to survive. Some people become thralls where they routinely kidnap others and offer these captives as human sacrifices to the Masters: the unseen aliens who oversee small geographical locations.
One man, Dan, has kidnapped a teenage girl and is in the process of bringing her to his own particular master. The Last Mile by Tim Waggoner tells the story of these two characters as they make their grisly journey to Dan’s Master. The novella is fairly short and the tale moves quickly. The world is portrayed in a dismal and bleak manner. The sense of character despair is richly portrayed. The descriptions of the climate, scenery, and the horrid transformations of our world are creative yet simple. I could see how our world could end up this way given the series of events that are only hinted at. Mr. Waggoner’s prose is spare – and it fits the tone of his work. The ending had a small twist to it which was clever. Overall, the book was a good quick read – certainly creepy.  

I’m not sure how old Glenn Rolfe is but looking at his picture on his Amazon page tells me is a pretty young guy (at least in comparison to me). I bring this up because I could have sworn after reading his novella, Boom Town, that he grew up on the same diet of 1950’s and 1960’s horror and science fictions movies that I did. Obviously, he didn’t. His work, Boom Town, however, brought me back to movies like The Blob, It Came from Outer Space, and Invaders from Mars. That is no small feat – it takes skill to create that mid-twentieth century sense of foreboding and curiosity of “what might be out there.”
Boom Town begins with a prologue of a UFO depositing something into the ground of a rural Wisconsin community in 1979. Fast forward thirty years later, and we learn that the community has been rocked with minor earthquakes ever since (hence the “boom” in Boom Town). When two 12 year-olds discover a pipe from the ground that has surfaced due to the tremors – they find a gooey blue substance that is leaking from the pipe. Without going into any more detail, touching the blue goo is not a good idea – but, still, folks do come into contact with it. When that happens, look out.
As I mentioned earlier, this reads like a 1950’s science fiction/horror story. The pacing is fast and the scenes involving the blue blob are gruesome fun. In fact, there is one extensive sequence of what happens to an older man who comes into contact with the substance that is worth the price of admission. The main characters are the kids who provide the backbone of the story. They are the investigators and their sense of wonder and willingness to suspend belief is a perfect match for the story. There is also the subplot of first love which adds an extra character dimension. The resolution of the story was a little unexpected which enhanced my appreciation of Glenn Rolfe’s willingness to take chances. There are not many negatives beyond the common error of attributing thought processes and emotional awareness to kids which is beyond their developmental level – so not a big deal.
A great read.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book in order to write an honest review.

When I was four, my family and my cousins vacationed on Montauk. I remember that we stayed in a small beach house that was painted pink. I have seen the family home movies of the trip – being on the beach and visiting the lighthouse, but those memories elude me. The pink beach house is a real memory, however. We never went back; instead we vacationed at Seaside Heights, New Jersey. So, the Jersey shore became our beach trip.  As an adult, my own family trips have been to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Being at the Atlantic shore is forever ingrained in my psyche.

When I saw a promotional ad for The Montauk Monster by Hunter Shea, I purchased it instantly. I cannot resist a beach-themed monster novel. I had not read any of Mr. Shea’s books before, but he had been receiving much praise so I was looking forward to eventually reading it.

The title says it all – although slightly inaccurately - there are monsters (plural) in Montauk, not a single monster. The Montauk monster refers to some local folklore (at least as described in the book – that entire section could be fictitious too. But, I bought it). So, as a reader you’re going into this with the idea that this is a creature feature, a monster novel. Does it work? You bet it does. Mr. Shea, thankfully delivers the goods.

You’ve got these genetically engineered monsters whose bite spreads a 100% fatal virus – that’s if the monsters don’t eat you first. At first there seems to be only a handful, but there a LOT more of them. Victims of the monsters include not just a random selection of undesirables (like the unpleasant characters or TV celebrities), but you’re everyday men, women, and children. Nothing escapes their clutches. The plot is pretty straightforward. The initial attacks are puzzling to authorities, and there is the race against time to figure out what the heck is going on as the community collapses. The monster attacks are vivid and jolting. The gore is in your face, and if a character manages to survive an attack – the author treats you to the death process by the virus. FEMA, the military and other covert government entities arrive to take charge, but many of them are in the dark as to what is going on.

Our heroes are a couple of young police officers who are trying to save their community by taking rather unorthodox courses of action. They are likeable enough, but are rather one-dimensional. That’s okay, though. You’re not reading this for literary-driven characterizations.

Overall, this novel is a blast. I loved it. The story is fast-paced and the plot is gripping. There are a number of twists and turns that are quite creative and I couldn’t turn myself away. You never know who is going to get killed either. The author is quite comfortable knocking off his characters as the plot moves along. That adds to the suspense. The only misstep of the author was when the main characters take time out to have sex in the shower while hundreds of people on the eastern end of Long Island are being eaten and these two have information that could save Montauk. Oh well, if this was the only time I could not suspend my disbelief, then that’s not bad. Kudos, Hunter Shea. I’ll be reading more of your work.

Young journalist Daniel Finley goes undercover for six month living among the homeless under a bridge in Boston. He develops relationships with these people and develops an unanticipated sense of compassion and empathy for them. He also learns about a deranged cult of homeless individuals whose leader possesses a supernatural ability to control his followers. To make matters worse, the cult seems to be preparing for a massive apocalyptic event – which they will trigger. Daniel’s immersion into this subculture pays off for him personally as he publishes a riveting account of his experience. But, this sets things into motion including strange murders, a vicious run in with an Irish organized crime ring, and an unplanned return to the Boston underground.

The Vagrants is the second work I have read by author Brian Moreland. Like The Devil’s Woods, which I enjoyed tremendously, this novella is a multi-layered story which combines thoughtful character development, a believable backstory, and a jaw-dropping ending that keeps you glued to your e-reader. The pace is well done. There are enough chills in the early reading to cast the first part of the book in an eerie light. The reader begins to interpret seemingly neutral occurrences in a haunting way. I was roughly three-quarters of the way through the story, when I found myself being creeped out – which prompted me to read non-stop well past my bedtime. I thought I had this thing figured out when Brian pulled the rug out from underneath me and sent the story going in a direction that I didn’t see coming. The final action races along like a plunging roller-coaster, and I could only hang on and go a long for the ride. Thrilling, claustrophobic, and unnerving – The Vagrants is all these and more. A fine example of an urban horror story.  

Searching for an atmospheric and creepy horror novel? Look no further than The Boy Who Drew Monsters by Keith Donohue. If you’ve read his previous novel, The Stolen Child, you have a sense for the author’s fiendish imagination – and it is on grand display with The Boy…

Ten-year-old Jack Peter has Asperger’s which is compounded by an extreme case of agoraphobia. He cannot leave the house for fear that monsters will get him – which makes him a virtual prisoner in his home (a beautifully described cottage right on the ocean in Maine). His parents are at wits end with how to deal with his disorder mostly because they disagree on courses of action. Jack Peter is fortunate in one regard, he has a close friend in ten-year-old Nick who is the child of family friends.

Without going too much into the story, Jack Peter has a knack for drawing monsters before other people see them – and see them they do (Nick, and Jack’s mom and dad are the prime witnesses). Needless to say, the plot becomes exciting with the appearance of the monsters, not to mention the introduction of terrific supporting characters, a blizzard, and a recounting of a historic shipwreck right off the coast from the family’s house.

The novel’s strengths are the portrayal of Jack Peter and Nick. These are unusual boys and they drive the story. Another key element is the gothic-like atmosphere. There is a weighty sense of dread the runs the entire length of the novel. Relatedly, the haunting elements are nicely written and the author keeps you on edge with his unusual narrative. One major negative is the depiction of the parents. They are both unlikable and their decision making is downright idiotic. This is a fairly significant drawback given the major role they play in the book. Given the cleverness of the plot, it is a shame that Mr. Donohue could not portray more interesting and intelligent adults. Still, despite this issue, this is a great horror read and I highly recommend it.

Sunblind by Michael McBride is a prime example of the exceptional dark fiction published by DarkFuse. The novel is both gritty and harrowing with its backstory, and when the supernatural elements are introduced the plot becomes downright unnerving. Two points of view propel the narrative. One is by a young border patrol agent in Arizona along the Mexico border. Within the first few pages, he finds a young woman barely alive on the US side of the border. She is clearly an illegal immigrant who has suffered massive injuries but somehow made it safely across brutal desert of Mexico. She is just barely able to tell him that he is in danger before she is whisked away for medical attention. He finds her cell phone, however, and sees terrifying pictures of numerous other individuals left behind in the desert who may still be alive. He and two other agents retrace her steps to locate and rescue these others.

The second point of view is the young woman mentioned above. Her account begins a few days earlier and describes her trek with twenty-five others in their desperate attempt to flee Mexico and make it to the US. Her sections are truly disturbing. The conditions of their journey are masterfully portrayed by Mr. McBride. The descriptions of unbearable heat and brutal sunshine are actually tangible. The sense of constant thirst and physical deterioration are painful to read. The interactions among these desperate individuals are beautifully depicted. The inner conflict of wanting to support others in the group versus guarding your own provisions becomes very clear.

When people begin to be picked off one by one by horrifying predators, the grueling narrative really gets kicked into high gear. The attacks by unknown creatures are thrillingly described and you begin to wonder what exactly is going on. I thought I had it figured out but the author had a number of twists which made the creatures (and their activities) highly unusual.

The story alternates between the two points of view – one working forward in time (the woman’s perspective) and the other backward in time (the border agent trying to piece together exactly what happened). This storytelling strategy is effective for this narrative. If I have one criticism it is the author’s tendency repeat himself with descriptions of the desert and the “lair” of the creatures. This is a minor quibble, however and does not detract from the story. Altogether a top-notch horror/monster story.

Startlingly simple but effectively realized, The Sleeping Dead is a jolting apocalypse-themed novella. Author Richard Farren Barber has set up an unusual portrayal for the end of the world. Jackson Smith is a young man in the midst of a job interview when things start going off-kilter. The interview team is on edge as one of the four men is behaving strangely. Instead of taking part in the process, the man just rocks back and forth and mumbles incoherently. When he commits suicide by jumping through a plate glass window to fall eight stories, poor Jackson realizes he probably won’t get the job. When others in the office – and the building – begin killing themselves in a variety of gruesome ways, Jackson knows he has to escape or he may befall the same fate. He, too, begins entertaining the possibility of suicide when a series of strange voices enter his head and urge him to commit the act by any means possible. Getting out of the building is difficult, however, as people are dying right and left around him and the temptation to follow the pattern is practically overbearing. He finds another survivor, Susan and the two of them must deal with a world where most everyone is talked into suicide by these nefarious voices talking inside their heads. Those that do not commit suicide just give up by sitting on the ground wherever they are when the idea strikes them. They are catatonic for sure, but are they dead? Are they sleeping? Are they the sleeping dead?

The first 75% of this novella is captivating. The sense of dread, panic, and distress is palpable. I was riveted to the story because Mr. Barber created a highly dangerous and confusing world, and I really did not know what was around the next corner. The prose was fluid and the two “normal” characters were nicely drawn.

But then… nothing happens. Many of the reviews comment on this, so I won’t elaborate other than to say I felt let down. I almost wonder of the author had no idea how to end it. I’m fine with ambiguous endings – in fact, they can be effective in keeping the story alive. This story doesn’t even have an ambiguous ending to dwell on. Which is very sad. I hope he writes a sequel, because I want to read more, but I would have preferred an attempt at an ending for The Sleeping Dead. 

Bruce Davenport, a young man who was recently laid off and still mourning the premature death of his wife, is near penniless when called by his estranged mother to come help at the family estate. Their relationship was strained when Bruce left home as a teenager, and he is not looking forward to returning. But with no options available to him, he takes off for the home in the Ozark Mountains. On top of these difficult circumstances, Bruce is a single parent to his four-year old son, Cody. When he arrives at the family home, his clunker of a car breaks down, and mom is nowhere to be found. Bruce and Cody are not just faced with an empty house, but one that is malevolent, cursed, and haunted. And then an ice-storm hits, so they are stranded for the night.

Elderwood Manor by Christopher Fulbright and Angeline Hawkes is an original take on the ghost story genre – which happens to be one of my favorite horror narrative forms. After a rather unexceptional start where the authors seem to be phoning in the story – the early going was bland and written at “arms-length” with little imagination and investment into the characters – the plot takes off once the guys reach Elderwood Manor. The atmosphere is chilling and the suspense builds in an unnerving rate.  The descriptions of hauntings are clever and unique and I was captivated. The plot becomes downright scary as Bruce must not only keep himself alive, but also protect a four-year old. Anyone with a child will be especially chilled as Bruce has to make decisions knowing they could lead to the death of his precious child if he makes the wrong choice. The authors portray this well without rehashing typical child-in-danger clichés. The climax does go a little over the top, but you certainly will not be bored. A solid 4-star read.