Quarantined Inside Shaw's Head

PANDEMIC by Matt Shaw, "Horrors Written in Lockdown," is just that, terrifying scenarios based on real-life quarantine events. Beginning with some drabbles, the author kills off fans in several ways, as well as interjecting some dark humor.

GRETA is just messed up.

THE HOUSE GUESTS has a high creep factor.

DEATH RATTLE is depressing.

THE MORGUES WERE FULL is my favorite.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY is sinister.

THE LOCKDOWN KILLER caught me completely off guard. I'd forgotten just how vulgar and brutal Shaw's writing style can be. Not for readers who haven't read anything by Shaw yet. (I suggest trying Octopus first, to ease into his storytelling.)

I also recommend TAINTED SOULS, another Covid-19 creation co-authored by Shaw and Shaun Hutson.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Hormonal Apocalypse

The night skies turned blood red as the largest asteroid, ever to pass the Earth, slipped between us and the Moon. Thousands of people flocked to the streets to see what was pushed by the press as a "once in a lifetime" occurrence. Some people hailed it as a sign for the End Of Days. Others simply partied the night away; celebrating the fact that mankind had barely survived being destroyed in the same way as the dinosaurs. The women though... Something else happened to the women...

It didn't matter where the women were in their cycle; that night they all inexplicably had their monthly at the exact same moment. But this wasn't just any period. As the bloods began to flow and their stomachs violently twisted and cramped, so did their tempers continue to rise and rise until their blood was boiling and they were unable to hold back their violent urges.

SHARK WEEK by Matt Shaw is vulgar and graphic, so, if you're easily offended, bugger off and read a self-help book or something along those lines. While absolutely shocking in some scenes, I found this story to be quite entertaining, and I think this novella needs to be made into a film. (The ultimate clap-back to hentai movies.)

The ending is a complete surprise. I thought aliens would take over after the women wiped the men off the face off the Earth, for some kind of breeding invasion, but Shaw takes his crimson tide of death into an unexpected direction.

The drabbles at the end are a humorous bonus.

As always,
AstraDaemon

COVID 19 Reveals The Monsters

The world has gone to Hell. A virus has seemingly come from no where, bringing with it a number of conspiracy theories as to its origin. Some of the theories are outlandish whilst some have an eerie ring of possible truth around them. But, as the world goes into lock down with people living in isolation only allowed out of their homes for essential journeys, people soon realise there are greater things to worry about than COVID-19.

THE TAINTED SOULS by Shaun Hutson and Matt Shaw is a dark collaboration filled with graphic violence, mainly taking place in the UK. If you have a weak stomach, don't bother reading this story. While I'm quick to call out authors who use rape and murder purely for shock value, in this case, it's a necessary evil to emphasize the sickness spreading throughout the population. Covid 19 is simply the catalyst to something much worse.

I'll admit, I'm not familiar with Hutson's work, but this novella is typical of Shaw's disturbing writing style. (If you want to curl up with a good book for comfort during your quarantine, you don't curl up with Shaw...especially not sober.) The variety of characters increases the suspense, not knowing how any of them will react to one another. Even within the separate groups, the dynamics are constantly changing, with everyone focused on their own individual survival.

All in all, this is one hell of a thriller, and I'm equally impressed with how quickly the authors put it together. I was hoping the house Adam came across would be the one from Octopus/Full Moon, or Tessa would have a backstory tied into one of Shaw's older stories, but I'm still satisfied with the novella as is. The ending is more frightening than anything else which takes place.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Hospitality From Hell

THE DEADLY GUEST by Matt Shaw is incredibly tame compared to Shaw's previous work. I prefer his more action-packed stories, such as his Full Moon series. Even though he states this is a stand-alone, I felt I should have read his How Much books to appreciate the characters more. As is, I enjoyed the horrors within the hotel.

I lost interest with the bonus story. However, I love the inclusion of the coffee drabbles at the end. Very clever flash fiction. I enjoyed Angela Miatt's drabble the most.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Kids Are Scary

EVE by Matt Shaw is somehow darker than anything else I've read by the author. Considering I've read Octopus, I am surprised at my reaction to the ending. I'd rather take my chances with the pack from Full Moon than this little girl. Seriously. She scares the crap out of me. I'm never going to look at snowmen the same way again. Damn.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Blown Away!

THE PACK by Matt Shaw is as awesome as the first book, and I just about lost my mind with the special appearance of two characters from another Shaw series. While FULL MOON is a horror-suspense story, this last installment is more of a mystery-thriller, with an abundance of flashbacks and double-crosses to keep readers guessing about the pack's future until the very last page.

I'm really glad I finished the series, and I feel sorry for anyone who gave up after reading THE DEN. I love how Shaw is writing multiple series set in the same horror universe. Kind of like Stephen King's cross-overs, but, instead of just referencing his other stories, Shaw is using his creations to drive his unyielding terror deep into his fans.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Team Michael

THE DEN by Matt Shaw isn't much of a story as just a peek into the daily lives and in-fighting of the werewolves from FULL MOON. After all the action in the first book, this installment is like a fart in the wind. There is one extreme moment, which had me screaming and cursing, but the rest is just Michael brooding over Jason being the alpha. Shaw could've have easily used this as an epilogue for book one, but for less than a dollar...fair enough.

I do wish the werewolf characters were more developed though. Shaw has provided minor backstories, but their personalities are so flat, with the exception of Michael, I'm not impressed with them in human form. Michael is extremely sick and twisted, and yet I find myself rooting for him to take over the pack because Jason is coming off as a fop, and the sisters are just so bloody decadent...Michael is more likely to provide entertainment for the readers.

I've already purchased THE PACK, so I'm in this to the end.

As always,
AstraDaemon

High Maintenance Werewolves

FULL MOON by Matt Shaw is one of the very best werewolf stories I've ever read. My main reason for loving this novel is the variety of characters. Usually this genre has the same stereotypical wolves and humans, but the author has created several interesting personalities among both groups. Shaw also brutalizes and exploits those same characters in his usual savage and shocking way.

Shaw's portrayal of the werewolves as self-entitled snobs is a rather refreshing change from the usual portrayal of uncontrollable beasts. The determination of the humans, although largely ineffective, is also far more entertaining than the self-pitying types. While the run/hunt is not an original horror concept, Shaw does a great job keeping readers tied down to the very last page.

I knew going into this, Full Moon is just the first book in a trilogy, and I can't wait to continue...I'm hoping maybe the priest will make an appearance...

As always,
AstraDaemon

Bloody Brilliant

A SUBURBAN HAUNTING by horror author Matt Shaw is absolutely one of the best ghost stories I've ever read. Everything from the setup to the changes in POV and the writing style in general is very well-done. This is definitely my favorite Shaw story, of the ones I've read. I never saw the ending coming. I couldn't have guessed, if my life depended on it...and the finale is extremely shocking.

Shaw takes a lot of grief over some of his more graphic stories, but if anyone doubts his story-telling ability, they need to read this novel. This storyline is so perfectly written, I'd love to see this book made into a film.

I'm planning to read his werewolf series before the end of year. I strongly encourage visitors to the Lair to click on the tags below, and check out the other titles by Matt Shaw.

As always,
AstraDaemon