Flame Tree Press Tour - Screams From the Void

 

TITLE: Screams From the Void

AUTHOR: Anne Tibbets

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: May 18, 2021

PAGES: 256

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS:

For two years in deep space, the freighter Demeter and a small crew have collected botanical life from other planets. It's a lesson in patience and hell. Mechanics Ensign Reina is ready to jump ship, if only because her abusive ex is also aboard, as well as her overbearing boss. It's only after a foreign biological creature sneaks aboard and wreaks havoc on the ship and crew that Reina must find her grit - and maybe create a gadget or two - to survive...that is, if the crew members don't lose their sanity and turn on each other in the process.

MY THOUGHTS:  I absolutely loved this book!  In reading the author's notes, it took a while for this book to get picked up and I do believe Flame Tree Press did the right thing when they decided to publish it.  The action in the book takes off right from the start.  The reader is transported aboard the Demeter and early on, we learn there is a foreign biological creature on the loose which no one knows about.   The ship's Captain does finally manage to hit the Yellow Alert, but by the time the remainder of the crew learns something horrible has happened, the death toll is already quickly rising.  

There are only a few characters on board but I fell in love with quite a few. Raina, the mechanic, is the main protagonist and not only is she trying to escape the creature, she is also trying to make sure her abusive ex doesn't kill her in the process.  Why oh why would you date someone you are with for two years in outer space?  I also loved Tamsin, the innocent gal who is one of Raina's best pals and Chief Officer Pollux was a treat as well.

This book has plenty of action and a kick-ass female cast.  There are a few jerks here and there but that made seeing what eventually happened to them all that more intriguing.  I have discovered that I really enjoy space horror and this may every well end up on a favorite's list at the end of the year.

RATING: 5 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Former TV writer Anne Tibbets is author of The Line Book One and Two: CARRIER and WALLED,and co-authored the first book of the sci-fi series EXTINCTION BIOME: INVASION,and authored the second, EXTINCTION BIOME: DISPERSAL, both as Addison Gunn. When Anne isn’t writing she’s a

Literary Agent.

Flame Tree Press Tour - Your Turn to Suffer

 

TITLE: Your Turn to Suffer

AUTHOR: Tim Waggoner

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: March 23, 2021

PAGES: 256    

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: 

Lorelai Palumbo is harassed by a sinister group calling themselves The Cabal. They accuse her of having committed unspeakable crimes in the past, and now she must pay. The Cabal begins taking her life apart one piece at a time – her job, her health, the people she loves – and she must try to figure out what The Cabal thinks she’s done if she’s to have any hope of answering their charges and salvaging her life.

MY THOUGHTS: I've read several books by Waggoner and if on this is for sure, the reader never knows what to expect and more likely than not, it's going to be one hell of a ride.  Lorelai is headed home from a tough day at work when she runs into a mysterious woman in the grocery story who claims she must confess and atone or suffer.  Soon weird and awful things start happening around her and to the people she cares about the most.  Lorelai takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of things and ends up traveling to an alternative dimension full of creepy cult members and strange creatures.  Can Lorelai figure out what she needs to atone for before it's too late.

Honestly, this really wasn't my favorite Waggoner book.  Everyone who knows me knows how much I enjoy an odd book and this one definitely fits the mark.  But I think it says something (probably about me but oh well) when my favorite character is a man who spews killer insects from his mouth and then welcomes them back "home" when their job is done.  I didn't mind Lorelai but clearly she had a lot of secrets which were uncovered the more the tale progressed and as they did, I found myself not liking her even more.  I will say the book did pick up for me toward the end and I can see where there might be a sequel in the future as the conclusion was a tad open-ended.  

If you love body horror and odd tales and haven't picked up Waggoner, you are definitely missing out.  I'm starting to think that author's mind is both brilliant and a scary place to be all at the same time.

RATING: 3 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tim Waggoner has published over forty novels and four short story collections, and his articles on writing have appeared in Writer’s Digest and Writers’ Journal, among others. He's won the Bram Stoker Award and has been a finalist for both the Shirley Jackson Award and the Scribe Award. He teaches creative writing at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. Visit him on the web at www.timwaggoner.com.

As an extra bonus, I read this book as a buddy read with my bestie Stormi.  Make sure you hop over to her blog and see her thoughts @ Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!

Flame Tree Press Blog Tour - The Searching Dead

 

TITLE: The Searching Dead

AUTHOR: Ramsey Campbell

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: February 16, 2021

PAGES: 256

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: 1952. On a school trip to France teenager Dominic Sheldrake begins to suspect his teacher Christian Noble has reasons to be there as secret as they're strange. Meanwhile a widowed neighbour joins a church that puts you in touch with your dead relatives, who prove much harder to get rid of. As Dominic and his friends Roberta and Jim investigate, they can’t suspect how much larger and more terrible the link between these mysteries will become. A monstrous discovery beneath a church only hints at terrors that are poised to engulf the world as the trilogy brings us to the present day…

MY THOUGHTS: Everyone who visits here regularly knows how much I love Flame Tree Press publications and honestly, I think this is just another of their releases everyone needs to add to their TBR.  Just know going into this book that it's the first one in a trilogy and I can't wait for the rest of the series to come my way.

The tale is set in Post WWII Liverpool.  The main character Dominic, is on a school trip and starts to suspect that his history teacher, Mr. Noble, has ulterior motives for being there.  Also, his neighbor is convinced that her dead husband has returned.  Dominic and his friends begin to try to piece together what is going on and figure out how it all might connect to Mr. Noble and something mysterious beneath a church.  

I'll admit that I'm having a tad time explaining this plot because I'm afraid of giving too much away. Plus, I went into this book pretty blind and based primarily on the author and having liked some of his past works.  Truthfully, I think it might work best that way.  Dominic is the star in a coming-of-age horror story and I loved traveling with him on his unknown journey.  I also loved Dominic relationship with his friends Roberta and Jim.  

If you love horror and haven't read Campbell yet, I have to ask why?  Although this one is somewhat of a slow burn, it's one I enjoyed each step of the way!  Bring on the next book!

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  The Oxford Companion to English Literature describes Ramsey Campbell as “Britain’s most respected living horror writer”. He has been given more awards than any other writer in the field, including the Grand Master Award of the World Horror Convention, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Horror Writers Association, the Living Legend Award of the International Horror Guild and the World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Flame Tree Press Blog Tour - In Darkness Shadows Breathe

 

TITLE: In Darkness Shadows Breathe

AUTHOR: Catherine Cavendish

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: January 19, 2021

PAGES: 240

SOURCE: ARC

 

FROM GOODREADS: 

Carol and Nessa are strangers but not for much longer. In a luxury apartment and in the walls of a modern hospital, the evil that was done continues to thrive. They are in the hands of an entity that knows no boundaries and crosses dimensions - bending and twisting time itself - and where danger waits in every shadow. The battle is on for their bodies and souls and the line between reality and nightmare is hard to define. 

Through it all, the words of Lydia Warren Carmody haunt them. But who was she? And why have Carol and Nessa been chosen? 

The answer lies deep in the darkness…

MY THOUGHTS: It's actually kind of ironic that I read The Devil's Dreamer for my Retro Horror post at the beginning of the month because that is pretty much what this book reminded me.  However, while I felt that book was a waste of my time, In Darkness Shadows Breathe took the same concepts but did it so much better. 

The book is divided in two parts.  The first is about Carol, who has no real connections to anything and decides to watch an apartment for a wealthy couple while they are out of town on work assignments.  Strange things start to happen to Carol and she finds herself intermittently thrown into the past and into the body of Lydia Carmody.  The second part tells Nessa's tale.  Nessa is suffering from cancer and enters a local hospital for surgery and treatment.  While there, she also starts having similar experiences and is scared when she finds herself experiencing things that could not have happened to her.  Eventually Carol and Nessa's paths cross and they need to figure out how to stop the past from becoming their present.

This is the third book I've read by Cavendish and I can now say she is a must read author.  She has a distinct way with words and settings and all of her books I have read always have a strong Gothic undertone.  I was truly invested in what was going on with Nessa and Carol and found myself as confused as they were at times, but only because the author managed to pull me into the book, not because I wasn't enjoying what I was reading.  It would have been easy to portray both female protagonists as unreliable narrators but I never felt that for a moment.  Something unexplainable was clearly happening to these women and I was pleased to be along for the ride.

If you are looking for an extremely atmospheric read, then look no further.  In Darkness Shadows Breathe is one you definitely need to grab!

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Following a varied career in sales, advertising and career guidance, Cat is now the full-time author of a number of paranormal, ghostly and Gothic horror novels and novellas. She lives with her long-suffering husband and black cat in a 260 year old haunted apartment in North Wales

Flame Tree Press Blog Tour - Mondo Crimson

 

TITLE: Mondo Crimson

AUTHOR: Andrew Post

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: November 2020

FROM GOODREADS: When Melanie, a car thief, is sent to find a certain vehicle only to discover it’s owned by dangerous hit-woman, Brenda, the two begin to wonder if their fateful encounter wasn’t just pure coincidence. It turns out they both work for a man named Felix Eberhart, who may or may not have had the hopes that Melanie and Brenda opened fire the second they laid eyes on each other. Melanie learns that Felix’s network of car thieves, fixers, and drug runners have all been set against one another. But why? Business was going so well... 

MY THOUGHTS: Andrew Post has quickly become an auto-read author for me.  This is the third book I've read by him and whenever I see an invitation to a blog tour and his name, I automatically sign up.  I'm so glad I discovered him when I read Chop Shop because I've been loving his books ever since. 

Mondo Crimson centers around four characters - Brenda, Mel, Felix and Merritt.  In the beginning, we learn that Melanie has gotten in over her head financially and is having to work off her debt by doing jobs for Felix, a creep on even his good days.  She is sent to Minnesota to steal a car but when she does, she meets Brenda.  Brenda also knows Felix and it isn't exactly accidental that the two run into each other.  Brenda is a badass and even though she secretly kills people for a living, she was easily my favorite character. 

So throughout the novel Post takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of dirty deeds and manipulation.  everyone seems to have their own agenda and as the climax built, I had no idea how everything would play out.  I ended up reading most of this book late one night when I was restless and it was a great payout.  I quickly lost myself, and my growing Playstation 5 frustrations were left behind - at least temporarily.  If you love dark gritty tales and complex characters who live in what I like to call "morally grey world," then Mondo Crimson is the book for you!

Bring on the next book Andrew!

RATING: 5 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Andrew Post was born in Erie, Pennsylvania (imagine Eraserhead but in color). While he was honing his craft as a writer (those early stories were awful) he worked in a gift shop in one of the scuzziest hotels in the Midwest, he cleaned rental cars (also gross), he was a butcher (despite being a vegetarian),and in 2013 his first novel, the cyberpunk thriller, Knuckleduster, was published. No one really seemed to care much but he kept at it and has since published a handful of other works to varying degrees of resulting public interest with a few seeing translations and one almost became a movie (that lit agent has since been fired). 

Andrew lives in a sleepy river town in Minnesota where he may or may not be planning aquatic "accidents"to befall the many other authors who live in the area and he has been mistaken for Rob Zombie on no less than ten separate occasions. 

Flame Tree Press Blog Tour

 

TITLE: City of Angels

AUTHOR: Kenneth Bromberg

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: November 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

The year is 1924. Sam Lacy, a tough-as-nails homicide detective, follows his own code of conduct within the racist and corrupt Los Angeles Police Department. Sam's beautiful ex-girlfriend has been murdered and a sadistic predator is assaulting young Chinese women. Are the crimes connected and can Sam stop the killers before powerful forces stop him? Sometimes, a good detective can't let the law get in his way. 

Sam navigates L.A.'s seedy underbelly with help from an unlikely trio: Sam's partner, Lonnie, a handsome detective whose cavalier attitude conceals a troubled past outside of the law; Sam's friend, Edward Bixby, a brilliant man whose crucial forensic work is performed off the books since the LAPD would never hire a Black man for a murder investigation; and Susan, Sam's sister and moral compass, a war widow and mother who pursues leads of her own. The story takes place in the movie capital of the world, a city that attracts wide-eyed innocents and cold-hearted killers; a City of Angels.

MY THOUGHTS: This book is a very atmospheric read and I really enjoyed being transported back to the 1920's.  As mentioned in the synopsis, Sam Lacy is investigating the death of his ex-girlfriend, along with assistance from a very unique group of characters.  Bixby is Sam's friend and a very intelligent Black man who does excellent forensic work.  Then you have Lonnie, Sam's partner, who has a colorful past of his own.  Finally, there is Susan, Sam's sister, who also works for the department. All of these characters play important roles and the author definitely has a talent for character development.  Although the plot jumps around a bit and I had to really focus in a couple of areas to make sure I was connecting everything, I still very much enjoyed the tale.

I also have to address the seedy side of Los Angeles which Bromberg shares.  He is not afraid to address issues of racist behavior, human injustice and corruption, not only within law enforcement, but with the movie industry as well.  Susan is in herself a refreshing character because while the book delves in abuse of women by men in power and human trafficking and money laundering, she is a strong character who doesn't want to be defined just by the fact that she is female. And it was painful to see the lengths Bixby's wife Velma goes to in order to keep her husband safe.

City of Angels was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes noir mysteries.  Just be prepared for some hard-hitting topics which are made all the more sad because many of them still exist of 100 years later.  Bromberg is an author to watch and I'm amazed at the talent Flame Tree Press has managed to secure.

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kenneth Bromberg grew up in the beach cities of Southern California with a passion for tennis, American history,and literature. His first novel, American Dreams, is based upon stories told by his grandmother, who emigrated from a small Jewish village near Kiev in the first years of the 20th century

Flame Tree Press Blog Tour - Human Resources

 

TITLE: Human Resources (Anders Nordvelt #2)

AUTHOR: Robin Triggs

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: November 2020

FROM GOODREADS:

The sequel to Night Shift, praised by Crime Review and Cemetery Dance. 

Antarctica. A city on the edge of nowhere. 

Anders Nordvelt is chief of security in this frozen land, so, when a prominent member of a dissident group is murdered, it is his job to find the killer. Unsatisfied with the obvious explanation, Anders keeps pushing until the body of a colleague turns up in his apartment. 

Could Anders really be the killer? Why does he half-remember wielding the knife? And why are the whispers of a fabled Human Resources black-ops team getting ever louder? As for Anders, he’s about to enter a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a ruthless killer.  

MY THOUGHTS: I absolutely adored Night Shift and even rated it 5/5.  I wanted to love this sequel just as much and I almost did.  However, the first one had the whole trapped-in-the-snow-and-might-die vibe which happens to be one of my favorite tropes and it wouldn't make sense for this to be exactly the same thing right?

Anders is now Chief of Security and in fact, all the survivors of the last novel show up in some fashion, which I enjoyed because the reader gets to see bits of what happened after Night Shift ended.  Anyway, a group of individuals have been sent to help build the new community and some aren't so happy.  In fact, a group of them advise they really had no choice and don't want to be there.  Little things start happening in the colony and someone is found dead.  Anders is in charge of figuring out the mystery, but when another body shows up in his apartment, he's left to wonder what role he played in the deaths.  

I really enjoyed watching the mystery unravel and while I won't go as far as saying the book was action-packed, it did have a pretty energetic pacing.  I'm not sure I really like Anders but I also don't feel my uncertainty made me like the book any less.  The only thing I'm sure of is that I would never hire Anders for anything because death and disaster sure have a way of following him around.  I also have to admit that the author did a good job of stumping me on the culprit because as soon as I had a suspect in my sights, my theory would get blown and I would have to develop another one.

I don't know if this is a planned series but if so, I'll definitely be picking up the other.   Definitely a solid choice for anyone who like me, loves snowy mysteries.

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Robin was raised in a Bradford library but now lives in Oxfordshire with his wife and freshly-minted small person. Trained as an archaeologist, he now works as a proofreader when not wrangling tourists at the Bodleian Library.

Flame Tree Press Blog Tour - After Sundown

 

TITLE: After Sundown

AUTHOR: Anthology edited by Mark Morris

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: October 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

This new anthology contains 20 original horror stories, 16 of which have been commissioned from some of the top names in the genre, and 4 of which have been selected from the 100s of stories sent to Flame Tree during a 2- week open submissions window. It is the first of what will hopefully become an annual, non-themed horroranthology of entirely original stories, showcasing the very best short fiction that the genre has to offer.  

MY THOUGHTS: Oh please let this be an annual thing.  This is definitely one of the best anthologies I've read in a long time.  Morris and Flame Tree Press did a great job of gathering some of the today's most popular names and adding a few new names to the bunch.  The result, a great collection of horror tales which I could simply not read fast enough.

I always find it hard to review anthologies but not in this case.  Many of the names you will recognize - C.J. Tudor, Grady Hendrix, Laura Purcell, Ramsey Cambell and Tim Lebbon to just name a few.  If that isn't enough to grab your attention, then I don't know what is.  In fact, if Morris could have added Hunter Shea to the collection, then I think it would have been as close to perfect as possible.  I think it's hard to rate an anthology a 5/5 because I can 't imagine every tale of the 20 to be a 5 star read.  However, this is as close as I've seen in ages.  Let me mention a few of my faves.

First there is Butterfly Island by C.J. Tudor.  I've had some difficulty with Tudor's full-length novels in the past but this is a story which I wish had been a complete novel.  I loved the sarcasm and wit of the MC and narrator and while I wasn't thrilled with the ending, it still remains one of my faves.  

Next is Tim Lebbon's story, Research.  This is an author I have loved in the past and this tale is no exception. It takes a deep look into a horror writer's mind.  And oh are the inner workings truly remarkable.  

And finally I have to mention Bokeh by Thana Niveau. This author is certainly new to me but she only confirms what I always suspected - never trust a fairy.

If you are looking for a wonderful collection to add to your shelf, then look no further.  I've only mentioned a few of the gems held between the cover but there is so much more for you to discover.  If you love short story collections, then this is one you won't want to miss!

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE EDITOR: Mark Morris has written and edited almost forty novels, novellas, short story collections and anthologies. His recent work includes the official movie tie-in novelizations of The Great Wall and (co-written with Christopher Golden) The Predator, the Obsidian Heart trilogy (The Wolves of London, The Society of Blood and The Wraiths of War), the anthologies New Fears (winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Anthology)and New Fears 2 and many more.

Flame Tree Press Blog Tour - The Portal

 

TITLE: The Portal

AUTHOR: Russell James

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: October 20, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

Three hundred years ago, on an isolated island in Long Island Sound, Satan tried to open a doorway to Hell. Now he's returned to finish the task. 

A black speedboat arrives at the small island community of Stone Harbor. Its mysterious passenger, Joey Oates, inspires terror by his very presence. He’s Satan incarnate, back to complete a ritual left unfinished three hundred years ago. A lost talisman called the Portal can open a doorway for the demons of Hell to enter our world. Oates plans to find the Portal, and finish unlocking it. 

 Former lovers Scott Tackett, family hardware store owner, and Allie Layton, flamed-out Hollywood actress, are about to reconnect after years apart, until they discover the evil growing in town. Only they can stop Oates’s awful plan and save the world from the living nightmares standing ready to crawl out of Hell.

MY THOUGHTS:  Honestly October was a great month for this book's release and I really hope lots of people pick it up in the future.  Seriously, Joey Oates gives off some serious Randall Flagg vibes and it's been since I've read The Stand last year that I've encountered such a sinister character.

The book starts off looking back at years ago when a coven of witches, under Satan's influence, tried to open a portal on Long Island Sound. Something happened which caused the ritual to fail but now, 300 years later, Satan has returned, in the form of Joey Oates, and this time he's formulated a better plan for success.  If he does, a portal will open which will literally unleash Hell on Earth.

I found this book to be extremely interesting and the pacing, while not always action-packed, was steady and consistent.  Toward the end, the pacing picked up because clearly Janes was building toward an epic battle and I found that I couldn't read fast enough.  I also felt truly invested in some of the characters.  Both MCs, Scott and Allie, are flawed, especially Allie, but they were so realistic and so endearing that I never stopped hoping that things worked out for them, and for the rest of Long Island Sound as well.

If you are looking for a creepy book which takes an in depth look at good versus evil and how even good people sometimes are led to do bad things, then definitely pick up The Portal.  James does a wonderful job with character development and the book is a great mix of character driven prose and plot driven action.  Go get it now!

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Russell James grew up on Long Island, New York and graduated from Cornell University and the University of Central Florida. After flying helicopters with the U.S.

Army, he has had multiple horror and paranormal thrillers

published. His wife reads his work and says "There is

something seriously wrong with you."

Flame Tree Press Blog Tour - Voodoo Heart

 

TITLE: Voodoo Heart

AUTHOR: John Everson

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: October 20, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: When Detective Lawrence Ribaud wakes alone in a bloody bed with his wife missing, he knows this is more than just a mysterious case of murder. His wife is the latest victim in a string of bizarre disappearances. All across New Orleans, on one night each month, people are vanishing, leaving behind nothing but a pool of blood on the bedsheets… and an abandoned heart. Ribaud doesn’t believe in voodoo, but he soon finds himself moving through the underbelly of a secret society of snakes, sacrifices and obscene rituals in search of the mysterious Black Queen … and the curse of her Voodoo Heart. 

MY THOUGHTS:  I don't know that I've mentioned it a lot but voodoo has always fascinated me.  Which is odd with my aversion to snakes and all that.  In fact, as a teen, one of my favorite "horror" movies was Angel Heart.  Come to think of it, maybe that actually started my aversion to Mickey Rourke.  Oh well, I digress.  So when I was offered a chance to be a part of the tour of a voodoo related book from one of my favorite publishers, I jumped at it.

Detective Lawrence Ribauld wakes up one morning with his wife missing and blood all over his bed.  Somehow, she has become the latest victim of a string of missing people and Ribauld now has a personal stake in figuring out what is going on in the haunting town of New Orleans.  Once he sets out on his investigation, he is soon thrown into a world of voodoo lore - including curses, blood and eww, snakes.  Can he figure out what is going on and live to tell about it?

This book was fascinating, intriguing and spooky - a perfect Halloween read.  It's full of tons of information regarding voodoo practices which makes me seriously question what Everson does for fun, or applaud him for his degree of research.  At its heart, pardon the pun, Voodoo Heart is mystery wrapped up in horrific details.  Like most all of Flame Tree authors, I can't wait to see what Everson comes up with next.  He definitely has a new fan here at Booker T's Farm!

RATING: 5 Paws

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: JOHN EVERSON is a staunch advocate for the culinary joys of the jalapeno and an unabashed fan of 1970s European horror cinema. He's also the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Covenant and eight other novels, including NightWhere and Siren.

Flame Tree Press Blog Tour - Misfits

 

TITLE: Misfits

AUTHOR: Hunter Shea

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: September 8, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

During the height of the 90s grunge era, five high school friends living on the fringe are driven to the breaking point. When one of their friends is brutally raped by a drunk townie, they decide to take matters into their own hands. 

Deep in the woods of Milbury, Connecticut, there lives the legend of the Melon Heads, a race of creatures that shun human interaction and prey on those who dare to wander down Dracula Drive. Maybe this night, one band of misfits can help the other. Or maybe some legends are meant to be feared for a reason.

MY THOUGHTS: Well, in my opinion, Shea had knocked it out of the ballpark again.  Or at least he's written another book which is jumping onto my favorites list.  Misfits tells the tale of 5 high school outcasts.  You know the kind - the ones who would rather hang out in the smoking section at school (when they used to have one) and didn't care about attending school functions, or maybe even sometimes classes.  Maybe you were even one.  One night something horrible happens to Marnie.  In an attempt to seek revenge, her friends call upon a mysterious stoner who lives off of Dracula Drive.  Together they formulate a plan to engage help from the folklore legends known as the Melon Heads - a deformed group of inbreed individuals who have inhabited the woods off of Dracula Drive for years and who allegedly feed on the flesh of other humans.

This book is crammed full of action and eerie moments from the get-go.  I loved the misfits and enjoyed learning about their histories and what made them tick.  I grew attached to the characters, even ones I didn't think I would in the beginning.  I even like to equate them as Breakfast Club...if the Breakfast Club was a horror movie and all the characters were drunk or stoned most of the time.  And the ending!  Shea took it in a direction I never saw coming.  Have I told you how much I love Hunter Shea?  If you visit Booker T's Farm regularly then it's something you already know.  Shea clearly did his homework on this one and after I finished the book, I had fun looking up Melon Heads on the internet.  And I even found several mentions of Dracula Drive.   

Misfits is another great novel and I'm thrilled to be part of the blog tour.  Anyone who loves horror and folklore legends needs to check out this book.  You won't be sorry!  

COPYRIGHT Weird Ohio 

Dare to walk,
Down Dracula Drive,
In day or night,
You won’t survive.
They wait in trees,
And hide below,
Hungry for people,
Too blind to know.

RATING: 5 Paws

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hunter Shea is the product of a misspent childhood watching scary movies, reading forbidden books and wishing Bigfoot was real. He’s the author of over 17 books, including 'The Jersey Devil' and 'We Are Always Watching'. Hunter’s novels can even be found on display at the International Cryptozoology Museum.

Flame Tree Press Blog Tour - The Raven

 

TITLE: The Raven

AUTHOR: Jonathan Janz

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: September 8, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

Fearing that mankind is heading toward nuclear extinction, a group of geneticists unleash a plot to save the world. They’ve discovered that mythological creatures such as werewolves, vampires, witches, and satyrs were once real, and that these monstrous genetic strands are still present in human DNA. These radical scientists unleash the bestial side of human beings that had been dormant for eons, and within months, most people are dead, and bloodthirsty creatures rule the earth. Despite the fact that Dez McClane has no special powers, he is determined to atone for the lives he couldn’t save and to save the woman he loves. But how long can a man survive in a world full of monsters?

MY THOUGHTS:  I am always excited to see what new releases Flame Tree Press has in store for readers each month and I'm doubly excited when I see it's something from Janz.  I've read several of his novels and have to admit, he never ceases to surprise me in some new way.

The Raven is different than the previous works I've read by him which are more on the lines of Gothic horror and creature features. However, something that plays over in most of his novels is the ability he has to create characters I can't stand and then systematically destroys them.  In this novel some "mad" scientists can't leave well enough alone and start playing with DNA.  They learn that the creatures that were once thought to be mythical actually exist and of course, being unable to leave well enough alone, start recreating them.  Dez is just an ordinary man searching for his lover Susan, who has been kidnapped.  What follows is an action-packed novel full of battles and interesting encounters.  

As I eluded, The Raven is kind of a mashup of dystopian, fantasy and horror.  Although I enjoy all of these genres, horror is my favorite of the three.  Just make sure you know going into this book that it's probably going to be different that the previous books you might have read by the author.  However, in this case, different is still good and I'm glad I gave this book a try.  I did feel like it kind of lost my attention in a few places but then something would happen and I would be quickly pulled back into the story.  A must-read for all of Janz's many fans and for people who love fantasy and don't read a lot of horror, this might be a good place to start if you want to dabble with some horror during this spooky season.  

RATING: 4 Paws

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels and numerous short stories. His work has been championed by authors like Josh Malerman, Joe R. Lansdale, Jack Ketchum, and Brian Keene; he has also been lauded by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and School Library Journal. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novel Children of the Dark was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Horror Book of the Year. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children. You can sign up for his newsletter (http://jonathanjanz.us12.list-manage....), and you can follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, and Goodreads.

Flame Tree Press Tour - Sins of the Father

TITLE: Sins of the Father
AUTHOR: JG Faherty
PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press
PUBLISHING DATE: August 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

Henry Gilman has spent years trying to separate himself from his father's legacy of murder and insanity. Now he has the chance - all he has to do is figure out who's been killing people in Innsmouth. Then he'll be a hero and win the heart of the woman he loves, Flora Marsh. But soon he's caught in a web of danger, with the undead stalking the streets at night, a terrible monster lurking below the city, and a prophecy of destruction about to come true. In the process, his actions cause unwanted consequences and to save Flora he has to do the very thing he's spent his life trying to avoid: follow his father's footsteps into madness.   

MY THOUGHTS:  You know what I like better than horror?  Horror with tentacles!  And while I've not read a lot of Lovecraft, I definitely recognize the author's nod to the classic horror writer. 

The novel is set in the early 20th century.  As a child, his father was a renowned doctor whose healing techniques came into question when Henry's mother was dying of cancer.  Some of his father's experiments led to corpse reanimation and eventually landed him in an asylum.  Henry is now an adult working as a coroner/mortician in the town of Innsmouth.  He is investigating the death of a local policeman when he witnesses a demon coming from the sea.  One who resembles a fish-like creature and one whom Henry witnesses murder someone.  Soon Henry has to prove his own innocence which proves hard to do with cloud of his father hovering over him.

This book was fast-paced and exciting.  I've read a lot of thrillers lately but as the nights get a tad cooler, I found Sins of the Father just what I needed to satisfy my horror-loving soul.  I found myself liking Henry for the most past but don't get me wrong, he was sometimes a despicable man who did questionable things.  Maybe it was because of his flaws that I liked him. 

I have to admit that I wasn't completely satisfied with the conclusion and perhaps there is a sequel in the making out there somewhere.  I'm definitely game for it if there is.  Either way, if you are intrigued by Lovecraft or enjoyed his works, then I think this might just be a book for you.  Once again, Flame Tree Press doesn't disappoint and Faherty is an author I will definitely pick up again.

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: JG Faherty is a Bram Stoker Award® and ITW Thriller Award nominee and the author of six novels, nine novellas, and more than 50 short stories. He writes adult and YA horror/sci-fi/fantasy, and his works range from quiet, dark suspense to over-the-top comic gruesomeness.

His novels and novellas, all of which are listed on Goodreads, include THE CURE, CARNIVAL OF FEAR, GHOSTS OF CORONADO BAY, CEMETERY CLUB, THE BURNING TIME, LEGACY, CASTLE BY THE SEA, FATAL CONSEQUENCES, THIEF OF SOULS, THE COLD SPOT, and HE WAITS.

He enjoys urban exploring, photography, classic B-movies, good wine, and pumpkin beer. As a child, his favorite playground was a 17th-century cemetery, which many people feel explains a lot. His personal motto is "Photobombing people since 1979!" You can follow him at www.twitter.com/jgfaherty, www.facebook.com/jgfaherty, http://about.me/jgfaherty, and www.jgfaherty.com.