Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Let the Right One In, John Ajvide Lindqvist.  New York: Thomas Dunne Books/ St. Martin's Griffin, 2004.  ebook, 421 pps.


     Let the Right One In is John Ajvide Lindqvist's first novel.  There is a boy-- Oskar-- who is picked on mercilessly by some of his classmates.  He lives with his mother in an apartment and acquires a friend named Eli who lives with her dad, sort of, in the building next door to his. 

     But there is a vicious serial killer on the loose.  This gives Oskar's mother fits.  She is uneasy whenever Oskar leaves the house and orders him to stay out of the woods.  But woods are irresistible to boys and girls all over.

sapphoq reviews says:  John Ajvide Lindqvist's first novel is full of win.  Oskar and the other kids are realistically drawn.  The city drunks are also believable.  The killings are vicious.  Every word of Let the Right One In builds up to a very satisfying ending.  Not for the squeamish.  Highly recommended.

Wormfood by Jeff Jacobson

Wormfood, Jeff Jacobson.  Aurora IL:  Medallion Press, Incorporated, 2010.  e-book, 232 pps.

@jeff_jacobson on twitter [last post was in 2010]
http://www.jeff-jacobson.com/  [last blog post was in 2010, one other book listed]

Arch Stanton lives with his grandmother in a trailer.  They are destitute.  Gram doesn't want Arch to work in Fat Ernst's Diner and she hates the Sawyer brothers.  But they need money and so Arch goes to work. 

Over a three day weekend, a lot happens.  There is a funeral, an accident involving the dead person and the casket, a flood, a big fire, lots of shooting, and the nasty gray worm-like organisms which are very hungry.  Oh, yeah.  We should not forget the pretty girl.

sapphoq reviews says:  Jeff Jacobson has written an excellent first novel.  This is horror at its' finest.  Gruesome slime and all.  Wormfood is non-pretentious.  The characters are realistic.  The setting is evocative of small-town America.  If you want to read something that will leave you gasping and holding on to your seat, get this book.  Highly recommended for adult fans of horror.

P.S.  Jeff Jacobson, please write some more books!