Extreme Graphic Violence

July 2013, Manchester, UK. A murder investigation team, led by DCI Mark Gunn is assigned to probe into the brutal mutilations of four women found dead from various locations around the city centre. The evidence gathered from the scene of the crimes, and the extreme nature of the women's deaths indicate that the team are looking for a dangerous, deranged maniac. As the case unfolds, and the team finds itself buried deep within the seedy, sleazy underworld of the city, characteristics between the murders increase proportionally with the body count. The only thing that the team cannot find is motive.

BOUND by Andrew Lennon and Matt Hickman has extreme graphic violence, and I really wish this novella had come with a warning. I think some readers are going to struggle with the details, particularly in the first gruesome scene. This is not the first time I've read this type of story, but I feel too much emphasis is placed on the torture and not enough on the interactions between the investigative team. The dynamics seem severely off. The ending is abrupt and sloppy.

I've enjoyed Lennon's work in the past, but I've never heard of Hickman until I read this book, so I have no idea what the latter's writing style is usually like. However, this is definitely below Lennon's ability. I'm not sure if this is one author's influence over the other, or a poor collaboration between two authors, but this is not the quality writing I've come to expect from Andrew Lennon.

To be crystal clear, even if the violent scenes were less graphic or removed entirely, the crime drama aspect is not well-written. This is torture porn.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Motz Nailed It

MELT by Christopher Motz is a mix of sci-fi and horror, and so much better than any version of The Blob movies. Imagine if John Carpenter and H.P. Lovecraft made a film together, and you'll have a pretty good idea what kind of epic nightmare the author has unleashed upon the residents of Ditchburn.

Greg is a fantastic character. If you weren't Greg at some point in your life, you knew someone just like him. As a result, his POV reveals a more personal level to this creature feature. The ending is unpredictable, kind of like falling down a rough hillside and hoping you survive the fall.

As is, I'm fine with this novella as a stand-alone, but I wouldn't say no to a sequel. I hope we see more work from Motz in 2020.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Crossings and Choices

BROKEN by Christopher Motz is a well-written personal drama about a man who has suffered so much personal loss in his life, he finds himself drowning in the pain. Essa tries to show him a way to survive, but he isn't having it. He's so focused on his suffering, he's forgotten what is worth living for.

I wasn't expecting anything like this from Motz, but I'm impressed nonetheless. This is the perfect example of something I once wrote in a Facebook post in 2011:

"...many peeps involved in the horror industry are not in it just for gore, nor or they dark or depressing...they just have a unique view of social commentary & appreciate detailed realism, even in the surreal; most of them are caring peeps who do a lot for their communities, & because they work in the horror genre, they appreciate their blessings, since their imaginations have seen how easily we could lose it all."

I recommend this story to everyone.

As always,
AstraDaemon

A Cold Day In Hell

THE FARM by Christopher Motz centers on an old man remembering some horrific childhood events which changed him forever...his last night on the farm is the only secret he ever kept from his late wife. Knowing he lived a long life doesn't offer much comfort as he reveals his terrifying memories through the voice of his much younger self.

This is a coming of age story about a boy who loses his innocence fighting demons, while trying to keep his family together. When a huge snowstorm isolates the family farm from the rest of the community, all hell breaks loose, literally and figuratively. After Emery discovers the secret his alcoholic father has been keeping, he realizes too late how much he has left to lose.

For full effect, read this during a snowstorm at night...

As always,
AstraDaemon

Picnic of Death

Dave is a middle aged waste of space. His days drip away in a haze of drinking, smoking and stealing from his mother. But one night the sound of screams disturbs Dave’s habitual living, and everything changes. Something evil is on the loose, snatching people from the comfort of their own homes. Dave’s neighbour’s, his family, his friends are suddenly vanishing. No one is safe. Unfortunately for Dave, it’s up to him to put a stop to it. Even if it kills him.

A LIFE TO WASTE by Andrew Lennon is another example of the author leading readers down a specific path, and then brutally shoving them off the path, straight into hell. I should have remembered Lennon never writes in a straight line, and every twist has a jagged edge to it.

Even though I had read the book's description first, I became so lost in the ruin of Dave's life, I forgot the story is about something other than Dave. As his personal drama unfolds, I wondered what it would take to undo the damage. Nothing could have prepared me for Dave's late night visitor. If I see an ice cream truck at night, I will likely crap myself.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Thursday Thriller: Frenemy

Sick and tired of day to day life. John turns to his thoughts and imagination for a means of escape.

One day he meets Keith. He is taught that life doesn't have to be boring. It can be fun. You can go places, do things, meet people. For the first time in his life, John begins to enjoy himself.

However, he soon learns that Keith is not as he appears.
He has a dark side. He is out of control and he is taking John down with him.

KEITH by Andrew Lennon centers on a cubicle worker by the name of John. He crosses paths with a guy named Keith a couple of times, and believes he's made a friend. Unfortunately, Keith is a sadistic psycho, and he's determined to drag John into Hell.

I've read so many stories with this premise, I had a solid idea of what kind of entity Keith is. However, I didn't know if, or how, John would be able to get Keith out of his life. The ending is not a happy one. Overall, an interesting psychological novella, but none of the dark humor I've come to expect from the author.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Human-size Cow Pie

Justin managed to get the day off work. He has plans to make the most of it. Drugs, booze, hookers - total degradation. There's just one problem. Those damn flies!

FLIES by Andrew Lennon is a short story about a schmuck who is a jerk to everyone around him...and he keeps seeing flies. Lennon has a talent for creating unpleasant characters, while keeping readers interested in the fate of those characters.

While the ending is a bit predictable, I still got a kick out of seeing Justin's day fall apart. I'm not sure what the deal is with the guy talking to "Kevin," and that irked me a bit, but I still enjoyed the quickie with Justin.

STRANDS by Shaun Hupp is a bonus flash fiction piece about arachnophobia.

LITTLE ANGEL by Norman Turrell is another bonus story about a new father adjusting to a nightly ritual.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Never Will I See The Sun Again

From author Andrew Lennon comes a new collection of eighteen titles, including short stories, drabbles and poetry. This versatile collection will have you fearing those noises coming from the attic, questioning whether you should enter that haunted house at the fairground, thinking twice before you stay in a motel on a desert-stricken highway. It will touch you emotionally when you witness a person’s struggles, their discovery of new friends, how they can triumph and live to see another day, raising their heads to create their own Ode to Death.

ODE TO DEATH by Andrew Lennon is an interesting mix of horror, in various forms:

MY ODE TO DEATH is a poem.

HOUSE OF ILLUSION is a carnival nightmare.

LUNCHTIME is a flash fiction piece...literally.

GHOST STORY had a ghost, but not much story.

NO SLEEP is another poem.

CARAVAN seems like a headline turned into a story.

BURIED is a flash fiction funeral gone wrong.

SANTA CLAUS COMES AT NIGHT is one of the most horrific stories in the collection.

DOG RACE is a tribute to Stephen King's Cujo.

TRYING TO WRITE A HORROR STORY is a tribute to Stephen King's Misery.

HIDE BEHIND A SMILE: poem.

VISITING TIME is a zombie story.

STRESS BLANKET is a soup for the soul moment. Not sure how it fits in with the rest.

RED SHOES is extremely sick and twisted, but very well-written, with a superb ending. The best story in the anthology.

NEW BEGINNING...more poetry.

THE SECRET LIFE OF MY IMAGINARY FRIEND would make a fantastic crime-thriller movie.

LOVER is brutal.

ONE NIGHT IN HOTEL is a chilling combination of the supernatural and crime drama.

House of Illusion, Santa Claus Comes At Night, Red Shoes and The Secret Life of My Imaginary Friend are all such fantastic horror stories, the four of them make this collection worth getting. However, I'm not really impressed with the anthology as a whole, but I still plan on reading more of Lennon's work in the following months.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Stay With Me 'Til The End

Officer Norman was only a teenager when his quiet neighbourhood fell victim to a brutal serial killer's bloody games. Too young to help, but not too young to feel helpless. Now, twenty five years later, as he patrols his beat, he can't help but wonder about the killer. A killer who is still out there, somewhere. Haunting memories of a case never to be solved . . . or is it?

THE SECRET LIFE OF MY IMAGINARY FRIEND by horror authors Andrew Lennon and Stephen White would make a fantastic crime-thriller movie. The serial murders are revealed through flashbacks, as the narrator is on his way to a concert. The half-time show leads to such a wicked twist, I had to reread the ending three times to make sure I understood what had happened.

I love being caught off guard.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Don't Bring A Schlong To A Knife Fight

Clarke has had a rough week.

His girlfriend told him it was over, his drug dealer is trying to kill him, and he's being followed by that nasty bird everywhere he goes. 

Now he's hell bent on settling the score and teaching every last one of them that he's not a man to be taken lightly... especially the beady-eyed pigeon that has taken more from him than his pride.

Lennon & Motz bring you an exciting, horrific, fast-paced story, packed with violence, gore, mutilation... and angry birds!

No one is safe and nothing goes unseen beneath the watchful eye of The Pigeon.

The Pigeon by Andrew Lennon and Christopher Motz should come with a warning about the graphic violence. Clarke hasn't had a rough week, he IS the rough week...for everyone unfortunate to cross paths with the maniac. At first, I thought Clarke to be merely a jilted lover who lost his mind, after losing something near and dear to him, but the authors fooled the hell out of me.

With the introduction of Greg and Tracy, and their falling out, the story line appeared to transition from psychological-thriller to crime drama, but, again, Lennon and Motz took me out at the knees with Tracy's long walk home. The ending resembles something like a Jackson Pollock painting, but with blood, pus and pigeon crap.

As terrifying as Clarke and his rotten friend are -- the rattlesnake shake in the diner is the most horrifying thing I've ever read -- you know who frightens me more? Lennon and Motz. Sickos.

Can't wait to read more of their work.

As always,
AstraDaemon