Monday, August 29, 2016

The Family Plot by Cherie Priest

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Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Weaving The Web: A Cold Hollow Mystery (Cold Hollow Mysteries Book 2) by Emilie J. Howard

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“The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and people are dying.”

Life is not always perfect in the town of Cold Hollow, but with Mayor Myrna Bradbury at the helm, it might be someday. When a batch of newly paroled convicts arrives to take up residence in the town, disappearances of longtime townsfolk begin, gruesome human remains are found, and a government inspection is looming on the horizon. Time is of the essence as Myrna and the new chief of police are thrust into an investigation the likes of which they had never imagined.

Welcome to Cold Hollow, the place where the fun never ends.



In this creepy sequel to Cold Hollow, much has changed since last we visited these odd and quirky residents, though much has gone on just as usual.  Weaving The Web picks up nearly where Cold Hollow left off. The bakery is still in full swing, Myrna is now the mayor, and an odd assortment of new residents are on their way to being rehabilitated. Well, except for that murderer who is on the loose.
Weaving The Web is a captivating read that further exposes the shocking secrets of Cold Hollow. If you enjoyed the first book you will love this one, and if you have not read the first you really should.

I received a complimentary copy for review


Saturday, August 13, 2016

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

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Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Chills by Mary SanGiovanni

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“True Detective meets H.P. Lovecraft in this chilling novel of murder, mystery, and
slow-mounting dread from acclaimed author Mary SanGiovanni . . .

It begins with a freak snowstorm in May. Hit hardest is the rural town of Colby, Connecticut. Schools and businesses are closed, powerlines are down, and police detective Jack Glazier has found a body in the snow. It appears to be the victim of a bizarre ritual murder. It won't be the last. As the snow piles up, so do the sacrifices. Cut off from the rest of the world, Glazier teams up with an occult crime specialist to uncover a secret society hiding in their midst.

The gods they worship are unthinkable. The powers they summon are unstoppable. And the things they will do to the good people of Colby are utterly, horribly unspeakable…"


A storm is coming, and there is an unimaginable evil in it. This is no ordinary storm, and starting with the discovery of a ritualistic murder victim we are given just a taste of what's ahead. Jack Glazier had worked homicide for 9 years, but he had never seen anything like this. Kathy Ryan is brought in on the investigation, Kathy is an expert on ritual and occult type murders and bears the scar of her first brush with the Hand of the Black Stars cult.....and then the snow starts.. and people are unprepared for what it brings.
This book started off so strong, and I loved Kathy Ryan and her back story. Other than Kathy I just didn't have a lot of interest in the other main characters, though I did like quite a few of the expendable characters brought in for the sake of doing away with them in truly chilling ways. After a very strong start it seemed to just lag a bit in the middle, though the action did pick up again towards the end. All in all well worth a read.
I received an advance copy for review

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Comorbid by Lorelei Logsdon

Description
"The debut psychological thriller that challenges your assumptions. James Davis is born into a life of strife and discord. His father is violent, his mother helpless—until a man calling himself Alistair breaks into his home and kills his abusive father in front of his eyes, protecting him from a final, deadly beating. As soon as the man appears, he vanishes mysteriously into the night, passing from sight and down into the murky depths of memory. Sixteen years later, James is still trying to cope with the events of that night. He has a normal life, a normal job, and normal friends—but he fears his childhood has left him a broken man from a broken home.

And then, just as suddenly as he had all those years ago, Alistair reappears and throws James' life into paranoia and chaos. Does Alistair's reappearance promise deliverance from evil once again…or this time has he come for James himself?"


This was a fascinating psychological thriller told partly from the point of view of James in the present day, and partly in flashbacks from the point of view of his mother Brenda.
Brenda had unfortunately fallen in love with an abusive man whom she married against her parents wishes. She tried to make the best of things with husband Frank, but he had more interest in drinking and gambling than being the family man Brenda had hoped for. When James is born into this unhappy home he becomes the newest target of Frank's rage, until one fateful night Frank is murdered in front of James by a stranger who threatens to do the same to him if he ever tells.
Now a grown man, dealing with PTSD James manages to hold a full time job though he prefers to keep to himself and avoid people as much as possible. Suddenly after all these years the murderer reappears in James's life, stalking him, advising him, and wanting something from him...
The ending was shocking! 4 out of 5 stars from me.

I received a complimentary copy for review


Thursday, August 4, 2016

The Reach of Children by Tim Lebbon

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Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Rockinghorse by William W. Johnstone

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Monday, August 1, 2016

Nightmares A New Decade of Modern Horror Edited by Ellen Datlow


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First off I adore this cover and applaud the designer. It caught my eye immediately.

This is a large volume of horror at over 400 pages. While I can't say I fell in love with every story, it surely has something for every horror lover. My favorites of the bunch were "Sob In The Silence" which was a story of murder. "Dead Sea Fruit" a very strange tale about the Ash Mouth Man who can make you waste away with a kiss. "Closet Dreams" which was about an escape of sorts from a most vile predator. "Lonegan's Luck" which of course was not really good luck at all. "Was She Wicked? Was She Good?" Is about the aftermath of a little girl who likes to pull the wings off....well you'll see.

"The Shallows" was a strange and fascinating story of a family that I really can't even begin to describe. Now that is not to say the other stories weren't good, these are just the ones that will haunt me for a while.

I received an advance copy for review