The Bosch universe is in full effect with Ballard, Haller, and Bosch all getting page time as the trio manage an interlocking caseload; some of it offThe Bosch universe is in full effect with Ballard, Haller, and Bosch all getting page time as the trio manage an interlocking caseload; some of it official, some not so much. The headliner; a cold case murder book long locked away in the home of a retired detective. Cold cases aren’t new to Bosch, now moonlighting as a vigilante of sorts with help on the lawful side of things by late show regular Ballard, but this one seems ‘off’. Enter the dangerous world of murder, gangsters, corruption and missing evidence…
Ballard is a great character, however, she’s one that works best without Bosch in my opinion. I found the cases she was involved in much more readable and enjoyable than the father/daughter interactions with Bosch – which became repetitive and dull.
On the cases themselves; I don’t mind coincidence in crime fiction, but it does need to be coincidence with a cause, not because it’s convenient, and that’s the way this played out, with the Bosch/Ballard/Haller triangle forming a Bermuda of believability; it just didn’t work. The case connections were just too forced to add any real plausibility.
I know I’m criticizing, but it’s more aimed the formula over the remainder, with the book largely being enjoyable despite my misgivings.
Final thought; Come for the Bosch, stay for the Ballard. ...more
The Door to December has similar themes to Disembodied by Robert W. Walker with a form of astral projection, poltergeist activity, and murder at its dThe Door to December has similar themes to Disembodied by Robert W. Walker with a form of astral projection, poltergeist activity, and murder at its deadly core. While at times reading like a police procedural with a suspicion of supernatural activity, The Door to December is definitely horror, particularly in the mid to later stages of the book. That said the scares are more PG than nightmare inducing. ...more
While the book and series have provided readers/viewers with a lot of information about the fictitious closed-off society of Gilead, there is still soWhile the book and series have provided readers/viewers with a lot of information about the fictitious closed-off society of Gilead, there is still so much to explore/exploit in this well crafted and scary dystopian setting brought to life in The Handmaids Tale.
The shock and awe moments which made the first book so memorable aren't as prevalent here, but the characters and their dangerous plights are plentiful, more than make up for the macabre nature of its predecessor.
Aunt Lydia and two reliable narrators (well, they seem reliable) from within and outside the walls of Gilead recount the horrors, truths, lies, and perception of aunts, handmaids, pearl girls, wedlock, slavery, and all things Gilead as seen through the eyes of experience and the viewing of propaganda. The three form the testament's trinity; scholars of history analysed through symposiums conducted decades into the future.
I enjoyed the deeper look behind Gilead's wall of hushed secretary where the heinous is no happenstance and totalitarian reins supreme. 4/5 stars. ...more
Dust Devils is a western with strong horror themes, an engaging cast of characters, and a tight linear plot which keeps the pages ticking over in rapiDust Devils is a western with strong horror themes, an engaging cast of characters, and a tight linear plot which keeps the pages ticking over in rapid pulse pounding fashion.
The protagonist and accidental hero, Cody, is a man wronged by the sins of his wife who is forced unwillingly into a world of violence, pain and the preternatural amid a backdrop of a dust covered wasteland inhabited by dangers previously confined to nightmares.
I love the idea of a travelling troupe of nasties visiting isolated townships and reaping havoc, leaving nothing but death and despair in their wake...yeah that's a little morbid but I do like my horror most macabre and that's the sort of meal Janz dishes up here; a heady blend of vampire and cannibalism, scorched meat, and wet thick blood tapped straight from the vein.
I quite liked Gwendy's Button Box, the first book in series by Richard Chizmar playing in the Castle Rock playground created by Stephen King. This, hoI quite liked Gwendy's Button Box, the first book in series by Richard Chizmar playing in the Castle Rock playground created by Stephen King. This, however, was a snooze fest. There was no sense of urgency about any element to the story; be it a group of missing girls, Gwendy's mother's health, or the consumption of treats from the mysterious button box and presumed ill-fated ramifications resulting from said consumption.
The best way for me to describe this book is 'flat'. The writing is ok, the characters (though really, Gwendy is pretty much the sole focus of the book) are ok, the story is just ok. Nothing really stands out.
The first Five Nights at Freddy's book was a feast of scares inside a dark, dank, and claustrophobic pizzeria inhabited by murderous animatronics in tThe first Five Nights at Freddy's book was a feast of scares inside a dark, dank, and claustrophobic pizzeria inhabited by murderous animatronics in the form of teddy bears and other 'lovable' stuffed creatures. The shock value was high, the nightmarish suspense real.
The Twisted Ones, however, tones down the horror element a notch or two. It's basically a goosebumps books (not a negative criticism, I'll always have fond memories of my feverish spells spent inside the pages of those childhood horror stories) with a shade of 80's horror and some crime fiction elements thrown in for good measure. Whilst enjoyable, I found it didn't pack the same punch as the first Five Nights at Freddy's book.
Suzanne Elise Freeman narrated the audio-book and did a fantastic job at hyping the suspense and bringing the characters to life.
Overall, The Twisted Ones is a solid 3/5 stars. ...more
Gifted kids in turmoil held to ransom by a secret organisation under the guise of serving their country; a sacrifice for the greater good, isn't an exGifted kids in turmoil held to ransom by a secret organisation under the guise of serving their country; a sacrifice for the greater good, isn't an exactly original or mind-bending inconceivable concept. Yet, Stephen Kings' latest tome manages to feel fresh, exciting, and new. This despite the flurry of fiction surrounding Stranger Things and the secret experiments carried out on kids from that franchise (see Suspicious Minds by Gwenda Bond).
Like most books I've read by Stephen King, it's the characters, not necessarily the plot which reign supreme and that's true with the Institute (though the plot is pretty great too). Luke Ellis is a great character who is instantly likable. Whilst gifted with semi-super powers and a ridiculously high intellect, King writes him in a way which is down to earth, making him more kid-like as apposed to the standard hero/savior. The ensemble cast, notably Avery, compliment Luke and make for a nice ying to the evil Institute yang.
I wouldn't classify this book as horror, however there are definitely horror elements, particularly in 'Back-Half' (read the book, you'll understand). Much like Sleeping Beauties (co-authored with son Owen), King distances himself somewhat from the genre he's best known, focusing on character and story first, creepy stuff second.
The verdict? If you're one of Stephen Kings Constant Readers chances are you've already read this, or will soon read it , if you're on the fence; fence sit no more, The Institute is great....more
The Scholar follows a tried and true formula of police procedural tied with the suspect being known to the lead investigator. Whilst I genuinely wanteThe Scholar follows a tried and true formula of police procedural tied with the suspect being known to the lead investigator. Whilst I genuinely wanted to see how the story unfolded, I wasn't blown away by anything in it and much prefer Dervla McTiernan's novella The Sisters. Cormac as a character lacked any real depth while Emma, his partner and the person who stumbles across the dead body to kick start proceedings didn't do a whole lot for me either (though I did enjoy the snippet of a backstory).
My verdict: 3/5 stars, serviceable whilst not being particularly memorable. Once again, narrator Aoife McMahon shines.
I'm not really sure where to start with this one. When you read pulps you know there's a 50/50 chance at best of hitting a winner or something remotelI'm not really sure where to start with this one. When you read pulps you know there's a 50/50 chance at best of hitting a winner or something remotely resembling a decent book - comes with the territory and I accept that. Cheesy dialogue, non-existent plotting, unbelievable cookie cutter characters; these are all part and parcel of the mass produced paperback pulps. Flame, however, is something different.
Using the above mentioned deficiencies as a baseline, Flame easily falls below...it's that bad.
With a story seeped in sex (mostly non-consensual), racism, and indiscernible colloquialisms, it's a hard read all round. The dialogue really slows the story, not that there's much actually happening between sexual encounters of the most explicit and deranged kind (I'll refrain from providing details, the world's a better place with this largely left unknown to masses), I had to re-read multiple passage of dialogue to get the gist of the conversation - which in the end didn't really add all that much value to the story (I wont dare use the word 'plot' as there wasn't one) be honest.
The opening stanza showed potential but it was false advertising; an Amazon-like warrior in the midst of performing an ancient ritual is brutally cut down by a band of slavers hell bent on pillaging the isolated African tribe. Flame, despite her best attempts to fight off the invaders is captured, from that point forward the story takes to a weird form of erotica.
Continuing with my dark and twisted journey into the devilish depths of retro horror, I recently finished reading a 'gem' I'd previously discovered waContinuing with my dark and twisted journey into the devilish depths of retro horror, I recently finished reading a 'gem' I'd previously discovered wasting away in a back corner of a dusty secondhand bookstore, Lyrica by Thomas F. Monteleone (the same Thomas F. Moneteleone of Night Train fame).
Published in 1987, the story holds up remarkably well, this despite the need for the reader to suspend their grip on reality, especially when the title character effortlessly inserts herself into the lives of Mozart and a host of other prominent historical figures only to greedily consume their genius for her own form of self preservation. After all, a beauty beyond measure's gotta keep herself in prime condition otherwise she's gonna turn into a serpent-like creature once a month. Without those killer looks she's just a serpent who, well, kills...
The modern-day (circa 1980's) story line is pretty good in all honesty; there's mystery, a hint of intrigue, an omnipresent sense of danger, plenty of steamy sex, and, do I dare say, romance? Yeah, there's a little before Lyrica absorbs her partners' life force, sorry, 'genius' in a brutal coupling reminiscent of the female spiders who eat their mate.
This book is quite a departure from The Night Train, but then again, horror as a genre is incredibly diverse so it's no real surprise that the author would mix things up a little in the spooky stakes here.
I'd rate Lyrica 3.5 (out of 5) stars. Well worth grabbing a copy if you find one in a secondhand bookstore. ...more
Well this wasn't what I was expecting...They say not to judge a book by its cover and that couldn't be more applicable here. What looks to be a spookyWell this wasn't what I was expecting...They say not to judge a book by its cover and that couldn't be more applicable here. What looks to be a spooky horror is anything but - rather what we have is a dark crime fiction about a serial killer who preys on the weak, and a late night talk-back radio host who is firmly in the cross-hairs.
Whilst the story is entertaining, I can't help but feel cheated a little. Sure I could've researched the novel a little more but Hutson is known for paperback horror and that cover really leads the reader down a path of lies... Despite this, I actually enjoyed the book. The characters are engaging and the whodunit mystery is well written with the killer identity not who I was expecting.
Overall, Purity is a solid, dark crime fiction with echoes of noir. I give this a solid 3 (out of 5) stars. ...more
This novella set in the Cormac Reilly series (loosely) is pretty good. Has all you could want from a fast pace crime story with mystery, suspense, andThis novella set in the Cormac Reilly series (loosely) is pretty good. Has all you could want from a fast pace crime story with mystery, suspense, and a whodunit element which stays strong throughout. I really enjoyed the emphasis on the sisters in Carrie as a young police officer and her sister Aifric, a lawyer just finding her feet. Personally, I'd rather see more stories focusing on these two rather than Cormac, such was the dynamic and potential to hold down a book in their own right.
Special mention to Aoife McMahon who is a fantastic narrator.
This was free for Audible members - a great incentive to the monthly subscription. ...more
In the distant future mankind has conquered the stars, well at least low Earth orbit anyway... but ambition, greed, and an overwhelming desire to be tIn the distant future mankind has conquered the stars, well at least low Earth orbit anyway... but ambition, greed, and an overwhelming desire to be the first has led to a space ages arms race; inhabit Mars, build bases on the Moon, mine asteroids in deep space, commercialize low Earth orbit...it's all for the taking and for one young entrepreneur, secrecy, scandal and a series of covert space ops, places him, and mankind on the brink of greatness.
Delta-V is a space nerds wet dream; a pure shot of science fiction adrenaline direct to the vein.
Author Daniel Suarez is known for his high octane tech-fi thrills but this one is something special. Delta-V puts the reader firmly in outer-space right alongside the characters in a claustrophobic and isolated place-setting which reads 'real' thanks to some tech-jargon and clever concepts right out of the space travel playbook.
There's a cinematic feel to the story which bodes well for future stories set in this universe as well making for some great, tension filled moments (which I don't detail to avoid spoiling). Everything about Delta-V feels big, as does the lasting impression. I give this a solid 5 (out of 5) stars. ...more
City of Ghosts is a YA horror which doesn't really feel like YA. Make no mistake, this is a creepy ghost story which takes some tried and true conceptCity of Ghosts is a YA horror which doesn't really feel like YA. Make no mistake, this is a creepy ghost story which takes some tried and true concepts and flips the script.
Peaking through the veil lies a world of repetition, loops, sadness, and a flux. The dead dwell here and Cassidy Blake can see them. Not only that, she can end the monotony should she wish. However, killing the dead isn't really her thing, especially seeing as her best friend happens to be a ghost.
This first book in a series of paranormal happenings is off to a great start. So much so that's it hard to talk it up too much without given away spoilers. If you like your horror a little lighter than than the norm then this is for you.
I give this a solid 4 (out of 5) stars.
Note. The audio version is fantastic with narrator Reba Buhr adding a whole level of realism and fun to this spooky and creative tale. ...more
Published in 1951, Shanghai Flame by A.S. Fleischman is a book I'd never heard of but had to have, in part due to that delicious pulp cover and my neePublished in 1951, Shanghai Flame by A.S. Fleischman is a book I'd never heard of but had to have, in part due to that delicious pulp cover and my need to snap up as many Gold Medal books as possible. This one was a lucky dollar pick-up at a rural bookstore and, early on, seemed to have a lot of promise; back alley noir with a twist of hardboiled fiction thrown in to put some hair on your chest.
Unfortunately, the gripping opening stanza wasn't a sign of things to come with the story largely tapering off from a pulp perspective; this despite the stock-standard wanton woman (or women) and male chauvinist with a whole lot to hide and more to gain; a wrong man front with little in the back.
The plot revolves around a journalist, Alex Cloud, on a mission to find the love of his life (a women called Flame), also a journalist who currently resides in Shanghai. Cloud, seemingly known to everyone he encounters in the city steadily tracks down Flame but finds himself in a world of pain, thanks in large part to 1) having in his possession a list of Communist spies, 2) the fact he's a notorious ladies man and said Flame isn't keen on rekindling their relationship, and lastly 3) well, lots of people want him dead...for you know, reasons....
Despite not being one of the better pulps, there are still some pretty memorable moments, most occurring in the first couple of chapters which are worth the price of admission alone, even if the rest of the book doesn't stack up.
I rate this a solid 2 stars (out of 5). If you see Shanghai Flame in a used bookstore and pulps (or collecting Gold Medal books) is your thing, grab a copy, if not, give it a miss. ...more
What happens when fantasy role playing tabletop games become real? Hobgoblin! That's what!
Written at the height of the role playing 80's scare which What happens when fantasy role playing tabletop games become real? Hobgoblin! That's what!
Written at the height of the role playing 80's scare which had just as much talking-head commentary as rap music in the 90's for it's influence (supposedly) to corrupt young and impressionable minds, Hobgoblin takes the fantasy element and infuses it with horror to form a nicely written c-grade novel which blurs the lines between reality and fiction - at least in the minds of the characters.
Scotty Gardiner is a preppy kid from a well-off family who has recently moved to a lower class suburb following the untimely death of his father. His mother, the attractive Barbara Gardiner is chronicling the torrid history of a local castle which also happens to be the centerpiece of the story's place-setting. It's here that Scotty looses sight of reality and slowly drifts into the fantastical fictional world of Hobgoblin, the role playing game which consumes his every thought.
Comprising elements of high school bullying, violence, murder, and otherworldly fantasy, Hobgoblin stays true to both the horror genre and the finer details of tabletop gaming which has been made all the more popular, thanks in part, to the Dungeons and Dragons elements of Netflix's Stranger Things.
I give Hobgoblin a solid 3 (out of 5) stars. Reader beware, Scotty is a complete pain in the a$$ character....more
Camp Blood is a wartime pulp set in the jungles of Timor where a troop of Aussie fighters are pinned down by a Japanese contingent, hellbent on eliminCamp Blood is a wartime pulp set in the jungles of Timor where a troop of Aussie fighters are pinned down by a Japanese contingent, hellbent on eliminating the Australians in order to strengthen their hold on the jungle and its surrounds.
I'm not one for reading wartime fiction but took a chance mostly due to the delicious pulp cover and I wasn't disappointed. Camp Blood reads more like a men's adventure story rather than a classic war novel; largely centered around 'Big Ben', an Aussie soldier who gets separated from his comrades during a heated battle only to find his way into the waiting arms of a Eurasian beauty who'd been hiding in a hut with her father deep in the jungle.
From there things get pretty interesting when the couple are captured and by the Japanese and sent to the notorious Camp Blood for interrogation.
While light on description, the implied torture of the couple at the hands of the vicious bad guys adds a dark element to the narrative and exemplifies the good verses evil tone of the book.
I'd given Camp Blood a solid 3 (out of 5) stars. Published by renowned Australian pulp published, Horwitz Publishers in 1963, the story holds up pretty well and is just the thing to spice up your pulp collection. I'll be on the look out for more John Slater books in the secondhand bookstores....more
From the start you know this isn't going to be any ordinary book; seeped in slang, the story set among squalor, Blood Sugar is at once creative and coFrom the start you know this isn't going to be any ordinary book; seeped in slang, the story set among squalor, Blood Sugar is at once creative and consuming. It absorbs the reader in a heartfelt story hiding behind the curtains of malicious intent and a twisted form of vengeance.
The narrative is insightful innocence spoken through a veil of ignorance that's all too real and scary as hell - more as a result of the plot's initial intent as apposed to the outcome.
While misleading, the cover is true to the book; make no mistake Halloween is the centerpiece but you won't find witches, monsters, or ghosts here. Just four down-on-their-luck characters who bond to form an unconventional family unit.
I loved every page.The unique style and over indulgent use of ebonics provided the characters with a voice that's honest and full complimentary to the story's place-setting; a perfect fit for the tone of the book. I give this a solid 5 stars. Blood Sugar will no doubt be on my 'Best of 2019' list come years end....more
The second Max Mingus book doesn't have the same level of black magic mystery as Mr. Clarinet but it certainly packs a punch when it comes to the darkThe second Max Mingus book doesn't have the same level of black magic mystery as Mr. Clarinet but it certainly packs a punch when it comes to the darker side of crime fiction.
The mysterious, almost supernatural-like entity that is Solomon Boukman, a dangerous criminal who seems to have the ability to change his appearance is at the center of Max's sights. Presumably responsible for mass murder in cult-like fashion, Boukman's body count is as scary as his legend.
Aided by an interesting and well developed supporting cast which includes a wanna-be pimp (who just doesn't have the heart for the game), a mother with serious control issues, and voodoo shopfront owner with a penchant for the macabre, Boukman's crew makes for meaty reading, worthy of a series of books about them in their own right.
As far as the investigation and police procedural aspects go, this isn't your run of the mill popular crime fiction. King of Swords takes the reader into a dark place where blood flows like wine and death is a rite of passage. I give this a solid 4 (out of 5) stars. ...more
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