2 Bloggers 1 Book - Swamp Monster Massacre

 

This month Stormi and I decided to venture into one of Hunter Shea's backlist books for our buddy reads.  We have always enjoyed this author, and she received this book as a birthday gift from a friend, and I was able to access it on Kindle Unlimited, add in Summer of Horror and it made perfect sense. So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's to see hers. 

TITLE: Swamp Monster Massacre

AUTHOR: Hunter Shea

PUBLISHER: Severed Press

PUBLISHING DATE: October 2, 2012

PAGES: 149   

SOURCE: KU

FROM GOODREADS: The swamp belongs to them. Humans are only prey. 

Deep in the overgrown swamps of Florida, where humans rarely dare to enter, lives a race of creatures long thought to be only the stuff of legend. They walk upright but are stronger, taller and more brutal than any man. And when a small boat of tourists, held captive by a fleeing criminal, accidentally kills one of the swamp dwellers’ young, the creatures are filled with a terrifyingly human emotion—a merciless lust for vengeance that will paint the trees red with blood.

MY THOUGHTS: Was this a great book?  No.  It doesn't even land on my favorite books by this author.  However, it was entertaining, action-packed and a quick read and sometimes that is all you need.  

Rooster is a career criminal.  At the beginning, he gets a little greedy and ends up killing the son of a gang member and stealing a bunch of guns and money.  He then has some drinks, does some drugs and passes out.  When he awakens, the father's goons are pounding in his door, so he ends up running off, with them close behind, and hopping on a tour boat headed for the Everglades. 

Rooster soon demands control of the boat and ends up driving the motley crew taking the tour deep into the Everglades.  Several people end up hurt when a storm brews up and the boat is run ashore and smack dab into the tree.  But in its path is a hairy monkey which is brutally splattered all about by the boat and everyone starts to wonder, why is there a monkey in the middle of the Everglades?

Soon the crew is being chased by Swamp Apes (aka Bigfeet? Bigfoots? what is the plural here?). The death of their big little one has angered the momma and before you know it, the group is fighting for their lives in the middle of a swamp.  

Like I mentioned, this book was okay.  There was A LOT of dismemberment and horrific deaths and I actually started liking Rooster as the end so I guess you could say there was some character development.  However, there was also a lot of stereotypical good-looking girl talk and some perversion but again, kind of expected for the type of book this is.  I do have to say that there is a scene thrown into the end that the book definitely didn't need and actually brought the rating down a bit for me.  

I don't regret reading this one and I will still pick up future Shea creature-feature books.  Unless you have a real reason to seek this one out, there are many other books by this author I would recommend first.

MY RATING: 3 PAWS

Not Safe to Be a Horse

TITLE: Stay Buried

AUTHOR: Jennifer McMahon

PUBLISHER: Gallery Books

PUBLISHING DATE: August 11, 2026

PAGES: 400   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: Some towns stay isolated for a reason. 

1919: Frankie O’Massey has always been the black sheep of isolated Boone’s Ferry, Vermont. Her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott, has been training her in the science of medicine, something the townspeople are wary of. When a mysterious illness strikes the town, and the community suspects supernatural forces, the two desperately search for a logical explanation. Patient zero seems to be the town’s knackerman—a recluse who collects dead and dying farm animals to make use of their parts. 

2016: Siblings Ashley and Malcolm lost their mother two years ago. When their grandmother dies, they inherit a property in Boone’s Ferry—a place they’ve heard of, but their grandmother has always refused to talk about—and embark on a trip to their ancestral home. The idyllic town is full of autumnal décor, picturesque farmland, and small-town charm. But some of the townspeople aren’t very welcoming—and they have some unsettling traditions, like leaving offerings to a vengeful spirit four times a year.

MY THOUGHTS: I've read at least three previous books by Jennifer McMahon and have a couple more on my shelves so when I see a new release announced, I'm always excited to see what she comes up with next.  I personally have never heard of a knackerman and after reading this book and by the sheer nature of his job, I don't think I would like him.

This book is expertly told in dual timelines and I have to admit, I was thoroughly invested in both.  In 1919, Frankie is living with her uncle and learning to practice medicine.  Frankie has not been well accepted as she prefers wearing men's clothing and has a secret relationship with her childhood bestie, Pearl, but she fits in as her uncle's assistant and she and Pearl have dreams of one day sharing their lives together out in the open.  In 2016, Ashley and Malcomb have just recently lost their grandmother following their mother's disappearance two years ago and after the passing, they have been left with more questions than answers.  

Ashley and Malcomb learn they have inherited a home in Boone's Ferry, a place their grandmother claims she has never been.  In addition, it was also the last known whereabouts of their mother, who was working on a genealogy project when last seen.  The timelines overlap and little by little, the reader is told of the Knackerman.  The Knackerman was an elusive man in Boone's Ferry who came and took away the dead animals in the town and turned them into useful items such a glue, leather and other materials.  One day, most of horses turn up sick and Boone's Ferry and before the week is out, most have passed gruesome deaths, often mutilating and injuring each other in the process.  Frankie and her uncle are trying to figure out what is going but before long, the illness has spread to humans and results in them dying and then "coming back to life" before succumbing to irreversible madness.  Everyone blames the Knackerman as he was the Patient Zero and what transpires is an urban legend that continues to haunt Boone's Ferry into 2016. The danger grows the more Ashley and Malcomb learn more about this history and the evil that lurks in Boone's Ferry and can they uncover the truth and escape before it is too late.

I adore McMahon's writing and the moment I started enjoying one timeline more than the other, she pulled me right back in to choosing another favorite.  The whole book is filled with suspense and an atmosphere filled with dread.  I loved all the main characters and wanted to best for them all but ultimately knew that wouldn't happen.  I also loved the way McMahon showed us several sides to the Knackerman and the lore surrounding him in Boone's Ferry. 

I will warn you this was a difficult read in the beginning.  The poor horse situations were graphic and hard to handle at times.  However, they were not abusive and were not sensationalized at all.  I can't rave about this book enough and when I finished it, even though it was 400 pages, I still wanted more.  McMahon is becoming an auto-read author for me, and I can't wait to learn what she comes up with next.  

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

I Am Groot! No Sorry, Root, It's Root!

TITLE: Carry Me to My Grave

AUTHOR: Christopher Golden

PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Press

PUBLISHING DATE: July 21, 2026

PAGES: 336   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: Maggie Wise will take your eyes.

When Malcolm was growing up, the local kids made up that chant about his mother, claiming she was a witch. He and his siblings did their best to ignore it. Now, Maggie is dying, and those same siblings have left Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet to hold a vigil at her bedside. 

But they’re not as alone as they think they are. A dark figure waits and watches from beneath the willow tree across the street. Hundreds of miles away, an ancient evil stirs in its burrow under a farmer’s cornfield. Across the country, other buried things begin to dream in anticipation of Maggie’s demise. On her deathbed, the old woman elicits a promise from Malcolm, her youngest child―when she dies, he and Violet must return her body to her birthplace in Shediak, Maine. 

From the moment she takes her last breath, before her remains are even loaded aboard the baggage car of the Imperial Limited, there are forces trying to stop Malcolm from fulfilling that promise. Violence erupts on the train, evil preys on its passengers, and once the sun goes down, those long-buried things are coming to make Maggie Wise pay for her past. God help anyone who stands in their way.

MY THOUGHTS: I have always loved Christopher Golden's horror and if you haven't checked him out yet, I highly recommend you do.  I have read at least five of his books, with All Hallow's Eve still remaining my favorite, and have several more on my shelves.  However, I have to say that this newest novel threatened to knock All Hallow's Eve off the top spot once or twice.  

Malcomb's mother is dying.  He and his sister-in-law Violet have been at her bedside for several days and when she finally passes, Maggie explains that Malcomb has a limited amount of days to travel to Sediak, Maine to bury her remains and if they fail, they cannot imagine the repercussions.  

Malcolm's family has never been close.  His brother is basically a gambler who hasn't been home in years and his older sister, even longer.  Violet is the only help he has had and together they have formed a forbidden love.  Maggie has always been rumored to be a witch but Malcolm never believed.  However, as the trip progresses, Malcolm starts to realize there may be some truth to the tall tales and that he has no idea who his mother really is or about the life she has lived.

This book kept me engaged from the first chapter and never let up.  The chapters on the train where Malcolm, Violet and Maggie's body are holed up in the cargo train are some of the most atmospheric and suspenseful ones I've read in a long time.  Also, the evil entities they contend with throughout their journeys are original and terrifying.  I won't clue you in to their supernatural nature (and no, they aren't really Groot) but they have lived underground for hundreds of years and when they finally pop up to introduce themselves, people all around better run.

I cannot recommend this book enough and am so glad I picked it up.  I really need to find time to read some backlist titles from the author because he hasn't disappointed me yet.

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

Horror Shows Favorites (Summer of Horror 2026)

 

I'm participating in Tammy's, over at Books, Bones & Buffy, Summer of Horror Event.  It's such a great event and she encourages all kinds of horror-related posts. I shared some horror movies Mr. Barb and I had recently watched so now I want to share some TV/Cable shows we have enjoyed as well.  

FROM can be seen on MGM+ and I can't rave about this show enough.  The final episode of Season 4 is on Sunday and I'm already missing it.  If you haven't caught it, this series gives me some serious Stephen King vibes.  This is probably one of my top recommendations. 

We recently just finished up watching DEVIL IN SILVER over at AMC+.  It is based on a book by Victor Lavall which I always meant to read.  Judith Light does an outstanding job in this one and it's extremely eerie and atmospheric.  Since it is part of the Terror Anthology series, I believe it has completely wrapped up so if interested, you could binge it all at once.  

WELCOME TO DERRY remains one of my favorite horror shows and it can be found on HBO Max.  Given how much I love Stephen King, watching this was a no-brainer.  I actually think it is much better and even scarier than the original and remade movies.  This Pennywise is horrifying and this show is the stuff of nightmares. I can't believe I have to wait until 2027 for the next season!

Finally, we have YELLOWJACKETS.  I do believe there is going to be one final season this fall, but I absolutely love this bat-shit crazy show and can't wait to see how it all resolves.  It has a dual timeline, and both the younger and older cast are spot on.  If you love horror, make sure to check this one out.

So there you have it.  I found so many ones I love I may have to do a retro version of this and feature some of my older faves before Summer of Horror 26 is over.  Do you have any recommendations?  I'm always looking for something new.

Horror Movies I've Recently Loved! (Summer of Horror 2026)

 

I'm participating in Tammy's, over at Books, Bones & Buffy, Summer of Horror Event.  It's such a great event and she encourages all kinds of horror-related posts.  Mr. Barb and I love a good horror movie, and let's be honest, we watch a lot of bad one too (which are sometimes just as fun).  So today, I want to share three recent watches.  Make sure you check out Tammy's blog which is linked above.

Hokum (2026)

Synopsis: a celebrated American novelist, who travels to the Bilberry Woods Hotel in rural Ireland to scatter his parents’ ashes, unaware that the hotel may be haunted and steeped in local folklore.

The story centers on the haunted honeymoon suite, rumored to be occupied by a witch, and explores Ohm’s confrontation with both supernatural elements and his own past traumas.

Thoughts: This was a slower-moving Gothic tale which was dark and twisty and VERY eerie.  There were a few good jump scares, including some dumbwaiter scenes which I still can't get out of my head.  5/5 movie paws.

Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026)

Synopsis: After a journalist’s young daughter vanishes in the desert, she is presumed lost forever. Eight years later the fractured family is stunned when she suddenly reappears, but the long‑awaited reunion quickly descends into terror as the girl’s return unleashes a nightmarish reality.

Thoughts: I don't scare easily which is expected as much horror as I read and watch, but I found this movie extremely terrifying.  The special effects are creepy and disgusting and the plot is intense. Mr. Mike and I compared this to the original Exorcist in scare-factors back in the day. 5/5 movie paws.

They Will Kill You (2026)

Synopsis: The film follows Asia Reaves (Zazie Beetz), a former convict seeking a fresh start, who answers a cryptic ad for a live-in housekeeper at The Virgil, a luxurious yet foreboding high-rise in New York City. Unbeknownst to her, the building harbors a dark secret: its residents are part of a Satanic cult that has been responsible for numerous disappearances over the years.  

Thoughts: This movie is a wild ride from start to finish.  In fact, the entire film is pretty much one long action sequence.  This movie is considered action, comedy, horror but I would say it's not really comedy as much as it is "snark."  The lead actress is phenomenal, and this one is definitely not for someone who might be squeamish. 5/5 movie paws.

Have you seen any of these?  Did you love them just as much or do you have another recent fave I need to check out?

This Woman's Lists Had Lists!

TITLE: Femme Feral

AUTHOR: Sam Beckbessinger

PUBLISHER: Penguin Books

PUBLISHING DATE: April 09, 2026

PAGES: 384   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: The head of a company she started from the ground-up, the worried mother of a troublingly secretive daughter, and the wife of an easy-going man who always has her picking up the slack—Ellie is already juggling too much. So, it's an inconvenient time to find herself beset by strange physical changes: hair sprouting in new places, running hot, trouble sleeping, losing time, finding bloodstains in all her clothing. And underneath it all, a boiling rage that threatens to disrupt the life she's worked so hard to build. 

Her doctor diagnoses perimenopause. But it's another twenty-eight-day cycle that's taking hold, one that involves fur, teeth, and a not-insignificant amount of howling at the moon—and that gifts Ellie incredible strength and speed. Her new power's thrilling, as is releasing the anger she’s suppressed for years—especially as it turns out that there are some problems that can be solved with violence: The terrible new hire who is sabotaging her careful plans. The creep who's stalking her daughter. Only, the beast within isn't easy to control, and its bloody trail is getting harder to hide. With an obsessive hunter on her trail and a growing fear of what she's becoming, Ellie must find a way to yoke her fury before she tears through the people she loves. 

A deeply gratifying, highly addictive and provocative read, Femme Feral is an exhilarating expression of feminine rage, with a warning: If you swallow your anger, it's sure to come back with a bite.

MY THOUGHTS: I would like to see a finished copy of this book because I ran into problems with the formatting of my digital arc which I feel greatly impacted my enjoyment and it was so severe it even impacted my overall rating which rarely happens.  My copy read as one long 384 chapter.  And there are some multiple POVs in some areas of the book that I often didn't pick up on until I was a paragraph or two in which made for some very disjointed reading (and later a game at the end where I would see how quickly I could tell who was narrating).

Ellie is contently married, caring for a daughter with a history of anorexia and a father--in-law who has moved in due to medical issues, including dementia.  She also has a very prominent job in the tech industry for a business that runs and launches updates to a very popular wellness/meditation app.  Ellie is trying to juggle everything and does so by carefully orchestrated lists.  All of Ellie's lists made me overwhelmed so I can only imagine how her life felt.

Ellie gets passed over for a promotion about the same time she starts losing time and starts experiencing some health concerns.  She isn't sleeping well, is having hot flashes, is more quick-tempered than usual, and is experiencing massive hair growth.  Her doctor snubs it all off as perimenopause, but Ellie starts to think it's something more - especially when she awakens to find her neighbors fluffy dog clogging her downstairs bathroom drain.

Around town, pets are coming up missing.  An elderly lady recently lost her cat and given she had very little else to live for, she starts investigating what is happening in the neighborhood.  The local cops think she has lost her mind, and her Facebook group is questioning her mental capacities.  However, she is determined to unearth the culprit. I actually enjoyed reading from this POV more than Ellie because despite her problems, which I get, she was rather unlikeable.  

Overall, I just found this book middle of the line. While referencing a few things in writing this review, I guess the author has admitted to using ChatGPT to write a lot of it.  I don't use that a lot but it sure might explain some of the disjointedness.  If you pick this one up, just know there are actually werewolves but also a lot of descriptive animal deaths.  

MY RATING: 3 PAWS

Summer of Horror 2026 Kickoff Post!

 

Last year was the first year Tammy hosted the Summer of Horror and I'm so happy she is doing it again!  I've been waiting for her kickoff post and want to share it with as many people as possible.  I love Tammy's blog and I love horror so what could be more perfect?  Hop over to her site for all the details.  It is pretty lowkey with no real challenges just loads of fun where you can tap into your own creativity.  Below I am posting some books sitting on my Pile of Possibilities.  I also want to do some themed recommendations/cover posts as well as posting about some horror movies and even some music which I think has haunted vibes.  

As you can see, there is a definite summer slasher vibe.  Hope I don't burn out on them but if I do, I have plenty of backups.  

Do you know of any books I should add to my possibility pile??? And let me know if you are participating so I can check out your blog.