Sour Candy - Beware Screaming Kids in Stores

TITLE: Sour Candy
AUTHOR: Kealan Patrick Burke
PUBLISHER: Elderlemon
PUBLISHING DATE: November 13, 2015

FROM GOODREADS:  At first glance, Phil Pendelton and his son Adam are just an ordinary father and son, no different from any other. They take walks in the park together, visit county fairs, museums, and zoos, and eat together overlooking the lake. Some might say the father is a little too accommodating given the lack of discipline when the child loses his temper in public. Some might say he spoils his son by allowing him to eat candy whenever he wants and set his own bedtimes. Some might say that such leniency is starting to take its toll on the father, given how his health has declined.


What no one knows is that Phil is a prisoner, and that up until a few weeks ago and a chance encounter at a grocery store, he had never seen the child before in his life.


A new novella from the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of THE TURTLE BOY and KIN. 

MY THOUGHTS:
I saw this book on someone's blog a few weeks ago and for some reason I was drawn into it. In addition, one look at the cover alone was probably enough to finish the job and make me hit the infamous 1-click purchase button. It's a fairly short story, but I found it really engrossing and if I hadn't just grabbed it before bed and actually had to sleep due to work the next day, I would have easily devoured it in one sitting. However, grabbing it before bed may not have been a good idea and if you scare easily, I'll tell you know, don't do it!

I mentioned to a Goodreads friend that while I am in no way comparing this story to something written by Stephen King, it did give me the same kind of feelings. I became a part of the world very quickly and when finished, it did leave me with a few goosebumps. Some of the scariest stories in my opinion don't contain actual monsters, but contain humans who are monsters and this book brings some of that to life. And come on, honestly I find kids downright scary and Sour Candy contains one named Adam that I most definitely do not want to run across.

If you are in the mood for a quick horror read, which just might stay with you long after you close the pages, pick up Sour Candy. Also, if you are curious why the next time I see a kid screaming their head off in Walmart of the local grocery store I am running as fast as I can in the opposite direction, read this book to find out why. I know Burke has more books out there so now I am off to see which ones I can find because Sour Candy has definitely made me a fan. 

RATING: 5 PAWS