Night Thief

WILLOWS by Kyle J. Franklin will have readers thinking twice before driving and parking at night. I found this story more cruel than frightening, but Mick's situation still had me thoroughly creeped out.

The author blends suspense and folklore to create a night terror not soon forgotten. If you like this kind of story, I recommend Franklin's STAY WITH US.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Permanently Benched

STAY WITH US by Kyle J. Franklin follows a boy named Robert into a clearing with a notorious reputation. Even though he has heard of people going missing in the clearing, he is determined to perform the midnight challenge to impress a girl.

The author doesn't reveal much, but readers will feel Robert's terror just the same. The suspense reminds me of the horror stories I read as a kid in the 80s, making the story one of those rare ones I can recommend to readers of any age...as long as one does not have a fear of the dark.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Island Dystopia Should Have Its Own Mini-Series

PHILOPHOBIA by Sin Ribbon is a short story about a man attempting to resurrect his wife. I had no idea how the fear of falling in love tied into the story, especially since I expected something along the lines of a modern day Dr. Frankenstein. When the true horror is finally revealed, I felt completely unprepared for Fetter's secret.

Ribbon does a great job setting up the terrifying twist with a narrator who lays out Fetter's past like a small town, backwoods legend. I'm so intrigued with the town itself, Ribbons could probably create a few more stories with the townsfolk, particularly with Mrs. Becca's church and Lisa Common.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Just Skip To The Battle

The Mole People have long been part of New York City's mythology. An urban legend, much like the alligators in the sewers. But the Mole People are no myth; they are real, and they are being recruited into an Army of Darkness with one purpose: to claim the city for its own

Frank Burger, a NYPD homicide detective, and Harvey Goldblum, a paranormal investigator, have both uncovered the plot, but when they reveal the truth, will anybody believe them? Or will the lights of Broadway go forever dark and will the City that Never Sleeps become a playground for the undead?

THE FREAKS COME OUT AT NIGHT by Joseph Rubas is a crime noir with a vampire at the center. The pace is slow, which makes it difficult to get into the plot. I couldn't read this in one sitting, as I normally do.

The POV switches between the vampire, a couple of detectives, and an author with writer's block. The structure of the story reminds me of a Law & Order episode, with a few supernatural scenes tossed in here and there, and not much action, until about 3/4 into the novella.

Once Mr. Sewer Man unleashed his deadly tsunami into the streets of New York City, the story becomes quite thrilling, but it's too little, too late. Large sections seemed completely unnecessary. I don't know many readers who will stay with this story long enough to enjoy the ending.

I wish the author would've written the entire story in the style he used for the last 1/4.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Urban Sleepy Hollow

The death of a Drug Lord's first lieutenant ignites an all-out war between two rival gangs, a war that has raged on for a year. Homicide detective Karen Oswalt realizes she has no chance of bringing peace to the streets unless she can find the murderer, but it appears to have been the perfect crime. No witnesses. At least none have come forward. But all that is about to change. With one phone call from an informant long-thought dead, Karen Oswalt and her partner are about to come face to... uh... well, face with the killer.

NIKOLIS COLE: THE LOW-RISE SAINT by Richard Black is so good, I gave a copy to a friend. Nikolis Cole is kind of like a modern day Headless Horseman mixed with Shaft, and I would definitely read another story with this character. I also enjoyed Detective Karen and the way she carries herself throughout the novella.

I've never heard of Richard Black before, but the author is definitely on my radar now. I highly recommend this story to anyone who appreciates horror mixed with an urban legend.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Bitter to the End

Rumors of the people who went missing from the large national forest at the heart of America didn’t keep its thousands of yearly visitors away. In fact, those privy to the Ozark legend were allured by it. 

Horrified and puzzled by the grizzly scene of a mutilated young man, a park ranger named Clyde Oaksdale and his boss Warren Jean were faced with an unsettling notion . . . the stories may be true, and reality is often times more hair-raising than rumors.

Bare Bones by S.O. Bailey is more of an action-thriller than a horror story, but it's absolutely captivating, nonetheless. I expected the monster to be a Big Foot or something similar, but Bailey created something much more sinister. Revenge and mental instability is a deadly combination. For Clyde, the key to his survival lies within his past. The Dragonfly guys are a nice touch.

As always,
AstraDaemon

When The Kids Fight Back

My family told me a story of a sadistic man, shrouded in white, who terrorized the children of Roanoke Road. They called him The White Man. That street has another secret it will not reveal freely.

The White Man by S.O. Bailey is a tragic short story about the kidnapping of a young girl and the efforts made by the neighborhood children to find her. Unfortunately for the children, there is more than one threat on Roanoke Road.

Bailey has taken something similar to an urban legend and used a creative mix of suspense and innocence to create a captivating campfire tale. I only wish the author had spent a little less time on Billy and more time on the previous sightings of the White Man.

As always,
AstraDaemon