I wanted to like this book more than I did. The concept is....interesting yet it missed the mark, while the characters themselves felt two dimensionalI wanted to like this book more than I did. The concept is....interesting yet it missed the mark, while the characters themselves felt two dimensional and weren't fleshed out enough for me to connect with them in any meaningful way. The action scenes were great but did little to make me rate this higher than 2 stars. ...more
Horror abounds when an abused and traumatised child's imagination crosses the boundary of internal coping mechanism to intelligent killers seeking a mHorror abounds when an abused and traumatised child's imagination crosses the boundary of internal coping mechanism to intelligent killers seeking a misguided form of vengeance at the bequest of their creator.
Whilst not hitting all the 80's horror tropes, Best Friend serves up a veritable platter of gore and goodness which is sure to fill the void of mass market paperback horror rekindled for today's audience.
This was my first Ruby Jean Jensen book and it certainly won't be the last. ...more
This collection of short stories is the perfect place to start for readers new to Conan. Not only does the book provide bite sized morals of the violeThis collection of short stories is the perfect place to start for readers new to Conan. Not only does the book provide bite sized morals of the violent sword and sorcery the long running fantastical protagonist is renowned for, but it also introduces all the key elements outside of the core themes prominent in the larger forms of fiction; monsters, magicians, thievery, the undead, friendship, deceit, and battles a-plenty.
I must admit that I've not read many Conan stories so my praise for this short story collection can be taken with a grain of salt. That said, this book just worked for me; be it Conan taking on a job as a thief and winding up battling a serpent or taking down a giant slug which had destroyed a castle and its surroundings, to rescuing a damsel in distress near naked and bloodied on a battlefield, each story was rich in Hyborian lore and cleverly intertwined into the broader continuity.
Another thing that appealed to me in these stories was the references to other adventures/places/characters, notably the Sword of Skelos which coincidentally, is the only Conan novel I've read.
I couldn't draw myself away from these stories until I'd finished the book, enjoying each of them equally. It's rare that I rate a collection so highly but CONAN was surprisingly consistent throughout. Highly recommend. ...more
Either Side of Midnight explores the concept of murder by suggestion, using media and live television as a platform. For the most part, this works preEither Side of Midnight explores the concept of murder by suggestion, using media and live television as a platform. For the most part, this works pretty well and despite the conforming subject nature the plot is engaging with a core mystery reigning supreme; what seems straight forward is anything but.
However, the pace and engagement didn’t hold throughout the duration of book. For me, I failed to make any real connection with the characters; Sam and Harry felt two dimensional, as did Sam’s wife and his co-workers while Jack Quick, the lead character from Greenlight came across as a stock standard mainstream crime fiction protagonist on the hunt for the truth (said ‘truth’ was a little underwhelming too).
In any book there’s an element of repetition; rehashing and retelling the story to keep the reader on track, typically presented in the form of a backstory, introspective character narrative, and/or character conversation. Here, Quick’s introspective thoughts were too frequent, the persistent approach to document his inner workings as he conversed with himself to ultimately set out a new course of investigation led to distraction and didn’t really add any value to the story. Whilst there is room for this in the book, the sheer amount here felt like filler content and did little to progress the story.
I must admit I had high hopes for Either Side of Midnight given how good Greenlight was, and whilst I enjoyed the concept of this book, the execution was a little off for me.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me a copy for review....more
Fantastic. Was considering a DNF about 20% of the way through (the characters weren’t working for me) and then it’s like a light switched and the storFantastic. Was considering a DNF about 20% of the way through (the characters weren’t working for me) and then it’s like a light switched and the story turned into something horrifying and truely brutal. Very well written and engaging. Highly recommend. ...more
I liked the omnipresent sense of dread and ever present threat of the unseen ‘things’ which breed madness in the minds of the characters who do see thI liked the omnipresent sense of dread and ever present threat of the unseen ‘things’ which breed madness in the minds of the characters who do see them but there was little ‘horror’ and the unknown element of Bird Box just wasn’t as prevalent here. More a slow burn storey which does have a pay off but I’d recommend Bird Box over this. ...more
Dark, disturbing, and near unbelievable - Stalkers by Eileen Ormsby reads like crime fiction at its finest - only it's not. Comprising four stories ofDark, disturbing, and near unbelievable - Stalkers by Eileen Ormsby reads like crime fiction at its finest - only it's not. Comprising four stories of seriously creepy stalkers complete with information about each stalkers sub category for added context and insight into the mind of the maddened, author Eileen Ormsby provides a peak behind the curtain of normalcy to showcase a world so twisted it's difficult to comprehend.
Whilst it would've been easy to write a book featuring high profile public figure harassment/stalker cases spattered across mainstream media, Stalkers delves a little deeper, both in timeline and victim. Sure there's one story featuring an up and coming young actress but the others are about normal, everyday people, including a shocking case featuring two teenage boys which, honestly scared the living daylight out of me, as did one about a deluded author who sought out a book reviewer who posted an unfavourable review on Goodreads! (yikes...).
It's been a while since a true crime book has given me serious goose bumps. Not since I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara has a non-fiction book left such a lasting impression and that's exactly what Stalkers has done - especially the fourth story about a young women who falls victim to a Craigslist rape fantasy which honestly feels like it was written for the silver screen and not ripped from police files and public news reports. There's so many twists to this torrid tale I couldn't believe how it turned out.
If you're a true crime junkie and/or a fan of the The Dark Web books by Eileen Ormsby this is a no-brainer...more
I'm glad I researched this book before delving in otherwise I think I would've been thoroughly confused.
Renowned for crime fiction, The Girl, Gold WaI'm glad I researched this book before delving in otherwise I think I would've been thoroughly confused.
Renowned for crime fiction, The Girl, Gold Watch and Everything deviates from John D MacDonald's bread and butter in favor of b-grade sci-fi which oozes pulp.
Published in 1962 (my edition 1968), the story holds up pretty well; time travel by virtue of a gold watch which, when the hands are turned backwards, temporarily suspends time to allow the watch holder to move freely around unbeknownst to everyone else.
Naturally this power is used for monetary gain and to enable the protagonist, Kirby to escape some pretty dicey situations, however the primary purpose of this great power is comedy. Yep...Kirby and his girlfriend use the suspended time to prank innocent bystanders as well as those who want to get possession of the watch themselves. Whilst I didn't mind this approach, the humor quickly grew adolescent (15yr old me would've loved it).
There are a few plot holes and 'easy-outs' throughout the book which dampened my enjoyment - and the attempted scientific rationalization of the gold watch's abilities I could've done without but overall I liked the book and would certainly recommend anyone picking this up in the dollar section of a used bookstore (I wouldn't recommended actively seeking out a copy as, honestly, it's not worth it). ...more
Bones Will Tell is a classic whodunit murder mystery with elements of horror (mostly from the suspense and shock methods spattered throughout). ClockiBones Will Tell is a classic whodunit murder mystery with elements of horror (mostly from the suspense and shock methods spattered throughout). Clocking in around 60 pages, it's a quick read that gets straight to the point with little to no filler content.
The premise is pretty simple and that's part of the fun; a preteen couple daring themselves to be brave jump over the wall of a creepy old house inhibited by an equally creepy old woman (though in reality said creepy old woman is in her early 50's) in search of ghoulish things and, well, to prove to themselves they're brave. Little did they know what lay on the other side of the wall would haunt them for the rest of their lives!
Whilst not as good as the book this is paired with in the two-for-one printing (Dead in Bed by Day Keene), Bones Will Tell is a lot fun to read, and will be more appreciated by readers familiar with pulp/dime-store paperbacks than traditional mystery readers. ...more
Dead In Bed is a formulaic pulp private eye novel, complete with wanton dames, murder, deceit, sex, and a whole lot of easy violence.
Johnny Aloha is Dead In Bed is a formulaic pulp private eye novel, complete with wanton dames, murder, deceit, sex, and a whole lot of easy violence.
Johnny Aloha is a Hawaiian private eye who makes his living in LA. Set in the post World War II era, Aloha, a former marine himself, has all the tools to recuse any dame in distress (or state of undress as it were) and has the uncanny ability to dodge bullets and escape out of the most dire of predicaments (i.e he can untie knots while both hands are restricted and can swim for miles in ice cold water whilst feeling the effects of a concussion after escaping from a sinking ship which he was able to do after he took down two armed bad guys). Far fetched as this is, Johnny is a largely enjoyable character in similar mould to the protagonists featured in Carter Brown's pulp novels.
In Dead in Bed, Aloha is hired by a soon-to-be-wealthy beautiful blonde 20yr woman to find her missing promiscuous mother. What looks to be a pretty straight forward missing persons case soon turns deadly when Chinese gangsters show up looking to beat Aloha to a bloody pulp. Whilst this angle is ambiguous in the beginning, it makes sense in the end.
Add some more beatings, blunt forced trauma, eager dames looking for the kind of love only Aloha can provide, and a cool 40 million dollars worth of inheritance and you've got a bag full of buttery popcorn pulp.
My only major gripe with the book is that it reads as a second instalment in a private eye series. Throughout the book I couldn't help but think I was dropped into a story which started from a preceding volume, especially given the considerable references made to a previous case which didn't seem to have anything to do with the main plot in this book. After looking into it further, this is the first book to feature Aloha with Day Keene penning a second, Payloa, one year later in 1960.
Overall Dead in Bed is a solid enough pulp which achieves what it sets out to do; entertain. ...more
I don't know what it is about this book but there's just something about 90's suburban housewives kicking vampire ass while balancing family, friends I don't know what it is about this book but there's just something about 90's suburban housewives kicking vampire ass while balancing family, friends and book club - and doing it all in style, that works on so many levels.
The thing that really stands out for me, is the ease of horror into the everyday life of the characters. The proverbial blood-spatter on the white picket fence doesn't feel out of place, in fact, it's like its always been there; an evil skulking behind the garbage bins at night patiently waiting for its prey, salivating for something succulent to sink its achingly hungry teeth into - and sink its teeth it does!
The plot feeds off the paranoia of one housewife in particular, Patricia, thanks largely to her genre of choice when it comes to book club; true crime. When children start to act strange, or even go missing, her knowledge of predators, gleamed from the pages of true crime books sparks her inner detective. From there it's goodbye dirty dishes and daily chores and hello conspiracy theories and monster hunting.
While there are plenty of gory moments, The Southern Book Club's Guide To Slaying Vampires isn't all about that Dracula blood-drinking night life. I found it to be a character centric tale which emphasis the nature of neighbourly love, friendship, family, and the deep rooted behavioural to protect ones patch (while, you know, taking out vampires).
The Southern Book Club's Guide To Slaying Vampires is a perfect blend of well written mass market paperback horror (yes, there are some from the 80's and 90's which are actually worth reading (though I do love those highly collectable covers)) and a more realistic take on the themes prevalent in Desperate Housewives. I can't recommend this book enough! ...more
This was my first foray into the YA horror Fear Street series and it could very well be my last.
I know this was written for a much younger audience, This was my first foray into the YA horror Fear Street series and it could very well be my last.
I know this was written for a much younger audience, but even with that being said, the characters were two dimensional and the plot overly simplistic (despite a nice-ish twist). I expected more from the creator of Goosebumps (some of which read much better than this).
A Night in Terror Tower has a surprising amount of depth to it considering the reader level. The characterisation is pretty good and the plotting is wA Night in Terror Tower has a surprising amount of depth to it considering the reader level. The characterisation is pretty good and the plotting is well paced and not without a nice twist or two. A real gem in the Goosebumps series. ...more
Violent, surprising, twisted and bloody; that pretty much sums up The Cellar. If you're into semi-shock horror you'll lap this up like the beasts withViolent, surprising, twisted and bloody; that pretty much sums up The Cellar. If you're into semi-shock horror you'll lap this up like the beasts within lapping up human remains; gorge on the gruesome....more
A more apt title for The Beach Girls (published 1959) would be The Docklands Drama. This little slice of pulp reads more like J.K Rowling's The CasualA more apt title for The Beach Girls (published 1959) would be The Docklands Drama. This little slice of pulp reads more like J.K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy than it does noir/crime fiction.
Each chapter is told from a different POV of one of the main characters, with the author drip feeding elements of corporate conspiracy, adultery, and murder, only for them to not go anywhere.
I enjoy character-centric books, however there needs to be something which ties them all together aside from proximity and gossip. Whilst the dockside living was an interesting place-setting, the criminal components were severely lacking - sure, there's a murder, but that was in the backstory with little violence (aside from a couple of adolescent-like beach brawls) or suspense throughout.
Perhaps this felt underwhelming as I failed to connect with any of the characters. Leo Rice had promise, however the others, (aside from some backstory in their respective chapters) didn't add value or interest to the book nor really contribute in any meaningful way to the wider story arc - they were just there...like furniture. ...more
Beauty contests can be murder, and that's certainly true in The Case of the Lucky Legs, the third book in the long running Perry Mason series (originaBeauty contests can be murder, and that's certainly true in The Case of the Lucky Legs, the third book in the long running Perry Mason series (originally published in 1934).
Perry Mason, the lawyer who dabbles in detective work not only has to contend with a missing beauty queen who may or may not be involved in murder, but his longtime friend and private detective, Paul Drake may not be as loyal as he was led to believe...it makes for a melting pot of sophisticated shadow play, half truths, and ill judgement.
The Case of the Lucky Legs is a lot of fun. That's to say, the popcorn pulp is in full effect, but there's an added layer of complexity that only Erle Stanley Gardner can pull off without making the book feel like a pure legal thriller.
One thing I've noticed about these earlier Mason books is that the courtroom antics aren't confined to the courtroom. Rather, the legal jargon and loopholes are cleverly incorporated into proceedings from the get-go and loosely applied throughout the book - of course that final element is critical to catching the criminal in the end - which Mason generally does.
The Case of the Lucky Legs is a must read for pulp enthusiasts and readers who like their legal thrills just that bit lighter. ...more
The Bluffs is a heady mix of mystery and intrigue fueled by speculative crime fiction amid a back drop of adolescent female noir; think Megan Abbott (The Bluffs is a heady mix of mystery and intrigue fueled by speculative crime fiction amid a back drop of adolescent female noir; think Megan Abbott (Dare Me), Jonathan Janz (The Siren and the Spectre), and Jane Harper (Force of Nature).
The complexities and cleverly plotted criminal components ensure the reader can never get complacent; just when I thought I'd figured it out, the script was flipped upside down with all blood soaked paths leading down a dark and dangerous new direction.
Despite the constant element of surprise and never ending twists, not once did the plot loose plausibility; every single piece of the puzzle fit perfectly; a testament to a well written story.
I can't recommend The Bluffs enough. 5/5 stars....more
Who doesn't love reading books about books? The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a long time favourite of mine, so naturally I couldn't waitWho doesn't love reading books about books? The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a long time favourite of mine, so naturally I couldn't wait to delve into this book-book with a supernatural edge (I immediately thought of Fireproof by Gerard Brennan).
The Library of the Unwritten does a fantastic job at merging the devilish elements of hell and fallen angels with the timeless allure of libraries. The characters who populate this sojourn into the many realms of belief are equal parts bookish and demonic - yet not without their redeeming qualities (Claire, and Hero are particular favourites).
Whilst I'm touching upon characters, I need to make mention of how diverse and unique each one is. Claire, Hell's librarian is vibrant, tough, and not without her darker moments, whilst Brevity, the head librarians muse, is a perfect ying to Claire's yang. Then there's the damsels, Hero and Brit; characters who exist only in the minds of their authors until the unfinished manuscripts hit the stacks in Hell's library - these characters are cleverly crafted and critical to the core plot. You've also got the stock standard demons and angels too stuck in eternal conflict, which I won't go into detail as to avoid spoilers, needless to say, there's a lot going on in this book and each character is given their time spotlight.
The Library of the Unwritten reads like a fantasy adventure book complete with a meaningful quest for a loyal band of heroes and plenty of dangers and pitfalls in their way. Ultimately the mantle of each character is put the test with some passing and others making the reader form completely different opinions of them from when the book started out. As you can gather, this story is heavy on character growth and development with the story happening around them (don't get me wrong, the story is a pretty good one).
Overall, I really enjoyed The Library of the Unwritten and can't wait to see what's next for these characters....more
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