I’ve only read a couple of books by Ronald Malfi, but I do have a number of my to-be-read pile. Most importantly, I am looking forward to reading them. His works that I’ve read have been masterful – written with smooth prose and unique storylines. A Shrill Keening, my latest read of this author, was another fine example of his narrative abilities. Carl Thompson is in long-term psychiatric care after murdering his girlfriend. However, Carl has no recollection of the event or the aftermath that included his arrest and trial. One minute he was home with his girlfriend and the next he remembers is waking up in the institution. His days are spent in a haze, broken up only by therapy sessions with a strange psychiatrist whose therapy skills leave much to be desired (and I thought this portrayal of the psychiatrist was not particularly believable). The nights though, are altogether different. Carl experiences dreams that are so vivid that he wakes up exhausted. The dreams include his exploration of an eastern seaboard community and patrols of a boardwalk – and this setting has been devastated by some kind of apocalyptic event. Only a handful of people are around and the area is populated by small, blue lizards with orange stripes.
To elaborate any more on the plot would do a disservice to a reader. Suffice it to say, the alternative reality that Carl experiences at night may not be part of his psychosis (or maybe it is) – and there is a real purpose for him to end up in this seaside local.
Many reviewers have compared this to a Lovecraft tale. I am not a fan of Lovecraft and I have not read many of his works. Therefore, to me, the story was quite unusual. The settings portrayed are unusual and haunting in their own right. Carl is richly drawn, and his actions and emotions ring true within the plot. The portion of the narrative that involves the “shrill keening” is absolutely spellbinding – and I thought that part of the story was gripping. In fact, I was disappointed that this section did not remain “on stage” for a longer period of time. I wanted to know what was happening in greater detail. On the opposite side of the coin, I felt the hospital sequence went on a tad too long (but this is a minor quibble). Overall, this is a solid 4-star review. Strongly recommended.

Kealan Patrick Burke has a fiendish imagination – which is great for his readers who enjoy his jolting horror fiction. His latest work, Sour Candy, had me transfixed from the outset when our protagonist, Phil Pendleton, has a chance encounter with a disheveled woman and her six year old boy. The woman appears traumatized beyond repair and the boy is capable of an unearthly and brain-shattering scream which sends all the other shoppers scrambling. Phil isn’t so lucky, and through a series of events he becomes the identified father of the child. What transpires is a novella of incredible ingenuity and gut-wrenching horror. You feel all of the shock that Phil feels as he finds himself trapped within the clutches of this kid.
My favorite horror sub-genre is the “creepy-kid” horror tale. The little boy in this book, who goes by Adam, is a devilishly creepy (and fun) character who hits all the right notes for unsettling your nerves. The story has a brisk pace accompanied by twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I was swept up with the story, and couldn’t help wondering (with a certain amount of envy) how the author came up with this riveting plot line.
For heaven’s sake, read it. And stay away from little kids and their stressed out parents in the candy aisle of Walmart.

​The Exorcism of Sara May is a startlingly good demonic possession novel. This is the first book I’ve read written by author Joe Hart. He’s been on my list of “authors to read”, and I took a leap at The Exorcism… and I’m thrilled that I did.
Hart provided a setting and characters that I love in a horror story: supernatural goings-on and creepy kids. The first person narration of fourteen year old Lane Murphy (actually Lane retelling the tale looking back seventy years) captures the essence of depression-era rural Minnesota quite well. Lane’s young adolescent viewpoint is realistic for the most part (there are only a few times that the mental activity is too sophisticated for a boy this age). He sees wonder in the woods near his house, the animals on the farms, and most importantly the pretty girl, Sara May, to whom he is attracted. Lane hangs around his best friend, Jones, and does typical boy stuff when he isn’t dreaming about Sara may. A sense of sadness permeates his life, however. His younger brother died a few years ago from a fever, and while the family has rebounded, the loss is still very real.
Terror creeps into Lane’s life – and the life of his friends and family – possibly related to a decades old evil presence. Folklore of a past possession is whispered about in town and a pattern of events suggests the presence is coming back. The first, and in many ways most, chilling event is the birth of a two headed kid (baby goat, that is) that is observed by Lane. His father is the county’s vet, and he brings Lane with him during a ferocious storm in the middle of the night to aid in the birth. The description, setting, and actual birth are positively unsettling. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing by the time I reached the end of the passage. Additional terrifying passages suggesting haunting, evil predators, and possession kept me on edge. Lane experiences and witnesses all of these, and his friend Sara May is the target of many of the attacks.
This story deftly combines coming of age and supernatural terror. I was hooked from the beginning. There was only one passage towards the end that took place in a general store involving a huge confrontation that rang false to me. Otherwise, the story was riveting. And, the exorcism section is a blast (along with a nifty twist that I saw coming, but was still deftly handled). I strongly recommend this story, and I plan to read more of Joe Hart’s work.

I read In the Shadows of Children in one frantic sitting. With this piece, Alan Ryker has penned a chilling ghost story – one that is unique in plot with a couple of neat twists. The novella tells of a young man named Aaron who returns home for his mother’s funeral. This is the first time he’s been back since the disappearance of his younger brother fifteen years prior. Aaron left home at eighteen to attend college and avoided coming back except for when his brother went missing. Aaron had a vague sense that something horrible went on during his childhood which is why he took off for college – but he could not recall the specifics of the events. When he returns however, memories come flooding back - about something sinister existing in the closet of his childhood bedroom which he shared with his brother. Oh, there is also the small detail of his little brother reappearing in their bedroom – still looking fifteen.

​My favorite category of horror is supernatural tales – of which ghost stories snuggly fit (at least in my mind). Ryker wrote another ghost story called Nightmare Man – of which I am very fond. I think In the Shadows of Children is even better. He is able to take the ghost story in different directions. He does not rehash old formulas – everything feels original. I was breathless as I read this tale, expecting him to take it in various directions. He kept surprising me, and the last 25% of the tale (as indicated on my Kindle) was as gripping as any top notch horror story.

​Ghosts of Eden represents another foray into New Mexico dark fiction by Keith Deininger. This time around, nine-year old Kayla and college-dropout Garty are “sent” to live with their uncle for the summer in his isolated mansion outside of Los Alamos. Both had been experiencing horrifying events and strange nightmares. When things spiral out of control and separate tragedies strike them both, their only option is Uncle Xander’s place in the desert. As it turns out, it was no accident that the two end up there as Xander begins tutoring them about dark arts, string theory, and weird physics. Can this guy be up to no good? You bet. You see, Kayla and Garty have “abilities” of their own…
Keith Deininger has been tantalizing his readers with brief incursions into strange worlds and other dimensions across a number of his works. So far, only sections or pieces have been unveiled, the full scope of his alternative universe has yet to be portrayed (although, his just released Godgame trilogy may be what we’ve been looking for – and it is on my to-be-read pile at the moment). The glimpses have been enticing as the author’s imagination jumps into high gear. I find his presentations chilling and exciting. The story line can be baffling, if not confusing at times, but this is half the fun in reading his works. What the heck is going on? You have to keep reading to find out.
The descriptions provided a fine sense of place. I was in Los Alamos about fifteen years ago, and I felt Keith hit all the right notes. His short interludes into the city itself provided a great sense of other-worldliness which enhanced the story. Interestingly enough, I found the passages in the early half of the book in which we learned about Kayla and Garty (and their scary experiences) more gripping than when they meet up at Xander’s house. I’m not sure why that is; maybe the author had reached a plateau of sorts. Nonetheless, the passages in the laboratory and when the kids were creeping around the mansion were well written – due to Keith Deininger’s freaky imagination and tremendous speculative fiction skills. A solid four-star read.

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.  

After reading The Kingdom of Keys by Brian Moloney, I couldn’t help wondering what kind of childhood and adolescence Mr. Moloney had. He states in his author notes that he carried this story with him from a very young age before he wrote it down. He must have had a blast as a kid with one adventure after another.
Sixteen year old Toby Pierce is struggling with personal issues and finds himself unhappy with aspects of his life. When he finds the ultimate skeleton key which unlocks a secret door in his bedroom, he does what every kid his age would do: gather his two best friends (Billy and Lori) and go through the door. On the other side of this “Door to Nowhere” is a fantasy world with mind-boggling adventures, strange creatures, and nasty villains. If this wasn’t enough, Toby is falling desperately in love with Lori whom he has known since kindergarten. As a result of his experiences, he learns some valuable life lessons.
What makes this tale different from the standard fantasy is the author’s nonstop boyish sense of humor (one reviewer referred to it as goofy and dorky – and that fits). You can sense Mr. Moloney’s delight in the escapades of our heroes through the banter and the plot twists. In some ways, the dialogue of the sixteen year olds didn’t quite sound like the “earthy” language of your average teen (not a single profanity escapes their lips!). They sounded more like twelve. But that is a minor quibble. In fact, I think this book would be great for this younger age group (in addition to those of us who appreciate boyhood humor and sense of adventure) because of the humor and underlying messages. For me, The Kingdom of Keys was pure joy.

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.