Guess Again | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

PIECES by Matt Shaw is not necessarily extreme, just sexually graphic in a few places. In fact, I would describe this as more mystery-thriller than anything else, and the author does a great job of mixing crime-drama and suspense into a traumatic rollercoaster for both readers and the main character.

Not only does the story flash back and forth in time, offering some insight into Billy's way of thinking, but the POV also offers a glimpse into the thoughts of those who know Billy. I'm not a fan of jumping around on a timeline, but Shaw's transitions are easy to follow, while keeping the ending unpredictable.

If I had to compare this to any of his previous stories, I'd choose FROM THE FLAMES. The two have similar writing styles. Definitely recommending this novella.

As always,

AstraDaemon

The Gray Boy | AstraDaemon

WHISPER DOWN THE LANE by Clay McLeod Chapman is told through two different POVs, one taking place in 2013, the other set in 1983. Richard's life begins to unravel after finding a ritualistic killing on school property. Sean's life explodes after confessing to being victimized in a satanic ritual. When the two storylines begin to merge, the result is absolutely devastating.

This crime-thriller illustrates the consequences of exploiting people's fears through deception and manipulation. McLeod effortlessly blends a horrifying secret of one man's past with the psychological terror of a little boy, adding a layer of small-town paranoia to create a sensational tragedy involving several families. Both Sean and Richard could have avoided their fates, if they had simply been honest...but sometimes doing the right thing seems damn near impossible.

While this is not the horror novel I expected, if you enjoy stories such as THE CHILDREN OF RED PEAK (Craig DiLouie) or UNPAVED SURFACES (Joseph Souza), I think you will enjoy this one as well.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Poisoned Roots

Apple, Massachusetts is rotten to the core.

Every fall, when the orchards ripen and the leaves begin to die, there are murders. We know it, and we accept it. It's the price we pay for living in Apple. Families mourn, but no one is ever caught. Now, there's a body in the woods, and the cycle is starting again. People bruise easily in Apple.

Finding a murdered and mutilated girl plunges Jackson Gill into the middle of a decades-old horror. For Jackson, the newest murders become personal. His mentally ill sister knows far more about the murders than anyone restrained in a basement room should know.

When one by one, her sick, cryptic predictions prove true, Jackson will have to believe the unthinkable and stop what no one has been able to stop in sixty years.

He has no choice. He lives in Bloody Bloody Apple.

BLOODY BLOODY APPLE by Howard Odentz is far darker than I could have imagined. Told through the POV of teenager Jackson, the savage history of Apple is revealed, as well as the twisted secrets each family hides behind closed doors. With the level of dysfunction among so many households, it's no wonder the annual murders are accepted as normal.

This year, the victims are all people connected to Jackson in some way, and his sister seems to know something about the killings, despite being chained up in their basement. However, the crime scenes pale in comparison to his personal life. This novel is a horror story within a mystery-thriller, and Jackson is the only one who might be able to piece the puzzle together, if his family secrets don't break him first.

I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys psychological horror, but I have to warn readers: there are a LOT of triggers in this book. This story gave me plenty of nightmares.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Supernatural Mystery-Thriller

BOTTLE TOSS by Howard Odentz is a very strange tale about a 17 year old boy who lives with a foster family. Denny notices sinister events unfolding around his town, after his sister's boyfriend tosses a bottle at a passing car.

I honestly thought I was reading a story about a group of pedophile werewolves who worship a goat-demon, for the longest time. Poor Denny is surrounded by so much weird activity, as well as several dysfunctional characters, I couldn't imagine what else would explain all the missing and dead people.

Odentz doesn't reveal anything, until Denny finally confesses the secret he has been keeping, at the very end. While I love this novel, I'm not particularly happy with the way some characters are dealt with. Some didn't deserve their fates, and others should have been made to suffer even more.

I also recommend WHAT WE KILL by Howard Odentz.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Supernatural Crime Noir

MONSTERS by Thomas Smith is more mystery-thriller than horror. The author has mixed a familiar supernatural concept with crime drama into something resembling noir fiction, with the narrator being both a victim and killer in equal measure. Smith also maintains a solid balance between action and dialogue, complete with a coming of age flashback. No dull moments, and entertaining enough to become a preternatural crime series.

While the premise is similar to a certain Marvel movie series, the tone is less campy, more personal, and I'd love to see Smith bring back Jack for another case file.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Secrets Within Secrets

THE WEDDING OF RACHEL BLAINE by Amy Cross has such a wicked twist, I've been sitting at my laptop for more than a few minutes, trying to figure out how to write this review. When I first saw this novel, I thought, "Here we go with another jilted bride-ghost story," but this focuses more on a woman with a dark secret...marrying a man with a dark secret.

I felt so damn sorry for Rachel, once her past is revealed, and her mother's flippant attitude made me sick. Rachel is about to get married, surrounded by friends and family, and not a single person has her back. Even though this story has a paranormal element, the underlying theme of distrust and abandonment is just too realistic.

The pace is a little slow...this could've been a novella, if not for the long setup...but the ending is worth the effort to stick with Rachel's plight. Too bad she didn't trust her own feelings.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Weird Wednesday: Your Number's Up

From the author of the APPLEWOOD series comes a short story about a small town police chief with a vexing traffic problem. In his search for answers, he soon discovers that sometimes, not knowing is far better than knowing...

THE INTERSECTION by Brendan P. Myers doesn't seem very sinister in the beginning. Accidents happen, nothing supernatural about that. However, Chief Foley is approached by a man who has been studying all the misfortune taking place within the same area. He reveals a hidden historical event, which might explain why the area appears to be cursed. Foley wonders, what can he do about it?

This piece reads more like a prologue for a bigger story, but the suspense is entertaining and the ending is disturbing.

As always,
AstraDaemon

My Eyes Are Burning Red

Ten years ago they swore revenge on the man who killed their comrade. Finally, a violent solar storm is plunging the world into darkness and giving them their chance.

When a solar storm knocks out all electricity for twelve hours, Cassie and Anders know that this might be their last opportunity to kill Michael Essien. Massively wealthy and surrounded by the strongest high-tech defense systems that money can buy, Essien lives at the top of a skyscraper in London. But the coming storm means that all his systems will be out of action for the night.

Setting out to gain vengeance, Cassie and Anders know that time is against them. They mount a daring, high-risk assault on the skyscraper, pitting their wits against whatever defenses Essien can scramble together in time. For one night only, the playing field is leveled. Will Essien's luck hold, or will the notorious gun-runner finally pay the price for a murder he once committed in the Middle East?

LIGHTS OUT by Amy Cross is a mix of suspense and drama, centered on two specialists keeping a vow they made to one another, after a mission goes terribly wrong. The POV alternates between Anders, Essien and Cassie, with a bit of Randall tossed in. Anders and Cassie think they'll be doing the world a favor by taking out Essien, as well as finally putting the past behind them. Essien, knowing he has enemies in London, expects Randall to provide security during the power outage. Randall is a wild card.

About halfway through, a major flashback reveals exactly what happened with Essien, but I still wasn't prepared for the shocking ending. Some scenes, particularly the ones with Cassie and Essien, are so intense, I didn't think I could keep going without breaking down.

Unlike most of the author's stories, there are no supernatural elements...just some people trying to tie up a very messy loose end with some calculated brutality.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Vampires As Weapons

It's morning again in America . . . but not for Scott Dugan.

Three years have passed since young vampire Scott Dugan and his uncle found refuge in Mexico. They thought they had put their troubled pasts behind them, until the day a familiar face shows up to ensnare Dugan in a scheme that will transport him to the killing fields of war torn Central America and beyond. 

And when Dugan learns the truth about their mission, he must decide whether he owes his allegiance to the human race he was once a part of, or to his newfound self.

The Space of Life Between is the final book in the Applewood trilogy by Brendan P. Myers. I'm quite satisfied with the ending. HOWEVER, Myers could and should continue this series beyond three books. The author's writing becomes increasingly stronger with each installment, and, by the third book, Myers has transformed a coming of age vampire story into a political drama with several POVs and multiple layers of suspense. With so much effort put into this trilogy, I think Myers should consider giving Dugan an ongoing series.

I can't remember the last time I read this kind of story evolution. I am so damn impressed by Myers growth as an author, as well as the development of his characters and the details of the various settings. Whether Dugan finds himself in a small town, a circus or El Salvador, the reader is transported along with the young vampire through intense dialogue and mind-shattering action. I know I never expected a journey like this when I first read Applewood.

If your looking for some horror with serious depth, please treat yourself to this series!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Puberty With Fangs

Fourteen-year-old Scott Dugan is both desperate survivor and hunted casualty of a vampire outbreak that decimates his small Massachusetts town. His uncle believes science offers hope and takes the boy on the run from shadowy forces tasked with exterminating those like his nephew. 

But when the two separate, Scott embarks on an epic journey that takes him from cheap carnival sideshow act to comfortable refugee in the home of a wealthy and reclusive man with his own dark tale to tell. 

As the chase moves from the low deserts of Arizona to the high peaks of Colorado and into the White House itself, Scott must avoid becoming a pawn in someone else's deadly game. And when he learns that self-discovery for those like him is only found by embracing all he has become, he must weigh his longing to remember who he was and where he came from against the certainty that in doing so, he will never see the sun again.

Fledge by Brendan P. Myers is the sequel to the vampire novel, Applewood. The first book featured a group of young boys, not unlike Stand By Me, with a horror a bit like Phantasm, and blended two mysteries into one fantastic vampire story. This sequel reveals what happened to Scott Dugan during the time he was away, struggling with his affliction, taking place between the alternating timelines of the original outbreak story.

Through Dugan's POV and his personal transformation experience, readers learn the nature of vampires in Myer's creation. I'm happy to say the undead in this trilogy are a force to be reckoned with, drawing upon the classic vampiric themes. As a human, Dugan already possessed a couple of psychic abilities, which have only been strengthened, but he also has developed a few other new skills. While I am enthralled with the main character and his fight for survival, I keep wondering what the deal is with the sweet-tooth cravings.

When I began this series, I would have described Applewood as a coming of age with a supernatural twist. However, with the introduction of the government characters in Fledge, the author has transformed this series into a preternatural crime drama. I'm hoping Myers will reveal what became of Stephen Harris and give Dugan the justice he has earned through his horrifying journey.

Even if you're not normally into vampires, I strongly recommend this trilogy to readers who appreciate a good mystery-thriller.

As always,
AstraDaemon

God Has Left The Building

The year is 1942. Britain is in the grip of the Second World War, bringing blackout conditions to much of the country.

For several years, Briarwych Church has remained locked and unused. Arriving to take up his new position, Father Lionel Loveford's first task is to open the great wooden door and get the church back into use. But something lurks in the shadows. A terrible tragedy once took place in Briarwych, and now the locals live in fear of a vengeful spirit that has sometimes been spotted looking out from the church's windows.

Although he doesn't believe in ghosts, Father Loveford soon discovers that the entire village of Blackwych lives in a perpetual state of guilt and terror. Does the ghost of Judith Prendergast really haunt the church and, if so, what does she want from the villagers? With the door now unlocked, does her spirit now roam the village? And can her anger really reach as far as the wartorn fields of mainland Europe?

The Haunting of Briarwych Church by Amy Cross is so much more than a mere ghost story. This novella is a mystery-thriller, revolving around a single decision by an entire village to turn their backs on a woman in need. Father Loveford appears to be in denial about everything around him, but his cynicism leads to his discovery of several tragic secrets, all tied together by the late Judith Prendergast.

Rather than lean heavily on the paranormal aspects of the story, Cross does a great job utilizing the wartime setting and the desperation of a community without hope. The conflicts of faith and reason highlight the horrors of human nature. Not once could I guess where the author would take this story. Definitely one of my favorite Amy Cross stories.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Z-Boat Finale

Ally Lane survived the sinking of the Betty Loo, escaped imprisonment, and averted an all-out war between the nations that would have destroyed the world.

Now she is faced with her greatest challenge. She must cross the country, avoiding hordes of the undead and groups of people willing to do anything to survive. 

While she travels with a rag tag group of survivors and new additions, the reality of their situation hits home. There are worse things out there than the zombies, and she can only think of one solution for them to live.

Z-End by Suzanne Robb begins a few months after Z-Topia ends. Ally is severely underappreciated, she is surrounded by people going insane, and the new zombie mutation has made the undead nearly impossible to kill. Despite everything that happened in the first two books, Ally has found a few people to care about, and she is determined to find a safe place for them. She just needs to stay alive long enough to see her plan through.

More details are revealed about the source of the outbreak, but Ally is more concerned with uncovering the reason for the downfall of several other survivor groups, before she loses what little she has left. It's looking like the end of the human race, once and for all.

Robb does an excellent job of mixing mystery and suspense into the horror of her zombie series!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Z-Boat Book Two

Ally Lane wakes up aboard a cargo ship dazed and confused. She has survived the explosion of the Betty Loo only to discover she's in more danger than ever. The captain has a hold full of zombies and the doctor on board is out for himself. The reality of what is happening hits her when she sees a map of the infected areas.

Armed with the truth, Ally must find a way to let as many people know what is really going on. She runs into a snag when the captain betrays her, turning her over to an enemy from a past she'd rather not remember.

Z-Topia by Suzanne Robb is the second book in the Z-Boat series. The post-apocalyptic future Robb created seems like a strong possibility - a frightening future. It reminds me of a quote that I recently read, "One day the only thing left for the poor to eat will be the rich."

Society has turned into a savage struggle for survival: food shortages, brown drinking water (if any water at all) and multiple families sharing one apartment...just to mention a few highlights of daily life. No more governments - just three major firms running the world, and the US is not one of them.

As if the self-induced apocalypse wasn't bad enough, a secondary apocalypse has unfolded in the form of a worldwide zombie outbreak (which spread through the limited water supply). While the main character, Ally (sole survivor from the events of the first book), sets out on a revenge mission, she realizes a third apocalyptic wave is unleashing a new nightmare in the form of stronger, more bullet-resistant zombies. Oh, and they're smart too.

Robb packs the pages with espionage, drama, brutality and character-intensive action. I can't wait for the third book!

As always,

AstraDaemon

Undead Underwater

Ally Lane is the pilot and navigator of the The Betty Loo, a search and rescue submarine. She took refuge from her demons on the sub a decade ago.

Brian Kingston, a captain with good intentions but a heavy drinking problem, jumps at the opportunity to make more money than he can imagine on a deep-sea dive aboard the search and rescue submarine, The Betty Loo. He quickly discovers just what he’s gotten himself, and his crew, into. The Betty Loo will be going to suicidal depths on a mission to rescue The Peacemaker, a sub once thought to be unsinkable. After receiving an anonymous threat on the day of departure, Brian is left with no choice but to continue on the mission. 

But the depths of the sea aren’t the only problems ahead. New crewmembers arrive, and seeds of distrust are sown within hours. And, upon arrival to The Peacemaker, he realizes that though not all the bodies are dead, there is no one to rescue. The crew members, both old and new, have to trust one another and fight for their lives against the adapting undead or join them in the floating graveyard that is The Peacemaker.

Z-Boat by Suzanne Robb is more mystery-thriller than a horror novel. While the first 1/4 is a painfully slow set-up of the characters and setting, it's obviously necessary. I know a lot of readers that would be tempted to give up, and, if they did, they would miss the fantastic writing in the rest of the book. Robb has a real flair for the dramatic, and knows how to reach in & twist your guts.

The prologue is a nice touch, but depressing as hell. The new world powers are Russia, Israel, and North Korea. Drinking water has to be mined from the Moon. On a mission to find a new sources of energy in the ocean, the crew of a submarine are being slaughtered by some unknown enemy, and send out an SOS. The chain of events in the prologue really sucked me into the book, but the pace of the story came to a crawl as the timeline jumped ahead six months to a rescue mission.

Robb does a thorough run-down of the characters' descriptions, including some brief personal background info, and switches the POV among them for the duration of the story...but it takes time to get everyone into place for the unfolding drama. It's like the characters of Deep Rising, in the setting of The Hunt for Red October, with some elements of Resident Evil, and some fabulous original writing by Robb.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dystopian Drama

In this electrifying literary debut, a young woman who channels the dead for a living crosses a dangerous line when she falls in love with one of her clients, whose wife died under mysterious circumstances.

In an unnamed city, Eurydice works for the Elysian Society, a private service that allows grieving clients to reconnect with lost loved ones. She and her fellow workers, known as "bodies", wear the discarded belongings of the dead and swallow pills called lotuses to summon their spirits—numbing their own minds and losing themselves in the process. Edie has been a body at the Elysian Society for five years, an unusual record. Her success is the result of careful detachment: she seeks refuge in the lotuses’ anesthetic effects and distances herself from making personal connections with her clients.

But when Edie channels Sylvia, the dead wife of recent widower Patrick Braddock, she becomes obsessed with the glamorous couple. Despite the murky circumstances surrounding Sylvia’s drowning, Edie breaks her own rules and pursues Patrick, moving deeper into his life and summoning Sylvia outside the Elysian Society’s walls.

After years of hiding beneath the lotuses’ dulling effect, Edie discovers that the lines between her own desires and those of Sylvia have begun to blur, and takes increasing risks to keep Patrick within her grasp. Suddenly, she finds her quiet life unraveling as she grapples not only with Sylvia’s growing influence and the questions surrounding her death, but with her own long-buried secrets.

The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphy is a mix of science fiction, paranormal, crime drama and mystery-thriller. The book's description doesn't do the story justice. In fact, the description is a bit misleading. Edie doesn't become obsessed with the Braddocks, she becomes possessed by Sylvia, the dead wife, while falling in love with Patrick, the widowed husband. Breaking several rules of the Elysian Society in the process.

Sylvia's death is ruled an accident, but some think it was a suicide, while others believe she was murdered. Due to the nature of their mindsets before death, channeling loved ones who take their own lives is considered dangerous for Bodies...more so for those who were killed violently. Edie keeps telling herself Sylvia's death was accidental, but when an unidentified young woman is found murdered, the Elysian Society comes under scrutiny. Who are they to decide which people are allowed to be brought back? What if their clients are lying just so they can hurt the dead yet again?

Edie's main reason for becoming a Body is to detach herself from her past, but there are too many similarities between Edie, Sylvia and Hopeful Doe to ignore. Too many people are asking too many personal questions. Edie wants a life with Patrick, but she doesn't know what his true intentions are. More importantly, Edie doesn't know her own intentions...she barely recognizes herself anymore.

This novel is so complicated, with secrets within secrets, I'm surprised this is a debut novel. Murphy does an excellent job making the reader feel like a Body channeling Edie. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for something that stands out from all the mainstream lit.

As always,
AstraDaemon