Haunted by James Herbert

Haunted, James Herbert. New York: Jove Books, 1990. paperback, 338 pps.


James Herbert is an English writer apparently of some fame. Haunted is the first book by him that I've ever read.

David Ash is a skeptic of the supernatural who investigates paranormal claims for a society. The society employs psychic mediums but is not interested in furthering the cause of charlatans who give the genuine mediums "a bad name." Some of the claims of hauntings or ghosties are falsified but some others aren't. 

David is hired to investigate a ghostie at the Edbrook Manor. It is a tragic story that he finds there-- three young siblings had been left to the care of an old auntie after their parents died in a horrific car crash in France-- along with a terrifying dog and lots of dust and unkempt grounds.

Things happen. David drinks a bit to take the edge off of his nerves. There is an attractive young woman of course. And two past stories of investigations included within the pages of this novel.

To be fair, I know a bit about cold readings and how to fake psychic phenomenon. Even so, the story drew me in until the end.

sapphoq reviews says: Although the descriptions of the places in Haunted were a bit sparser than I like, the characters were well-developed and the whole book was eerie. I like that in a book. For a mature audience who are able to separate fantasy from reality and who want a good English horror, highly recommended.

The Lamb of God and Satan's Hairy Scrotum by Scott Crowder

The Lamb of God and Satan's Hairy Scrotum, Scott Crowder. self-published: r[E]volution Press, 2013. e-book, 23 pps.


This one is not for the faint of heart and not for believers either. Or for anyone who is not a legal adult.

The Lamb of God and Satan's Hairy Scrotum is a pretty disgusting but deeply creative story. To those who object, please note that what various religious groups have perpetrated in the name of their particular chosen deity or deities is far worse.

sapphoq reviews says: A bit of horror for your Sunday morning breakfast. I liked this one. Not safe for Christians but highly recommended for the irreligious.

Let's Drink to the Dead by Simon Bestwick

* may trigger *


Let's Drink to the Dead: More Stories of the Faceless, Simon Bestwick. Oxford UK: Solaris/ Rebellion Publishing Ltd., 2010. e-book, 81 pps.

     A teen makes her way to a deserted train station to sleep after narrowing avoiding calamity with a horny trucker. The woods are shadowy and menacing. An old fellow who lives in a deserted hospital offers her hospitality.

     Children are being sexually abused and sometimes sold to a sinister man. He arrives on a train. There is a farmhouse where the exchange is made. A young man who had previously been a victim seeks redemption. 

     A woman has the Sight and a friend that she trusts. A ghost places upon her the task of revenge.


sapphoq reviews says: Child sexual abuse and children being sold to predators are the stuff of horror in real life. In Simon Bestwick's capable hands, they become horror multiplied. Highly recommended.

Hangover by Duane Schlitz

Hangover (caricature of a retarded hack), Duane Schlitz.  Self-published, 1996.  e-book, 88 pps.

http://archive.org/details/Hangover_by_Duane_Schlitz


Yes, it is under a creative commons license and legally free to download!


This 88 page story was a fascinating blend of word salad, puke, farts, and action.  Finding that the hawt chick's boyfriend was violent, the friends did the only thing that they could be realistically expected to do.  Full of blood and other bodily fluids.  Sex and rugs and junk food and beat-up old cars and Denver and the outskirts.  What is there not to love?  Even the random substitution of q for g and g for q added to the atmosphere.

sapphoq reviews says:  Duane Schlitz has written a startling e-book in a distinct style reminiscent of a Martin Millar, Joe Hill, Kurt Vonnegut, and Jeff Jacobson.  Hangover is a unique slice of life that will appeal to readers who celebrate counter-culture.  I adored this book.  And I highly recommend it to adults who can handle it.
Duane Schlitz, please write some more!

Trick-or-Treat by Eduard Joseph

Trick-or-Treat, Eduard Joseph.  self-published, Smashwords, 2013.  e-book, 19 pps.

http://eduardjoseph.webs.com

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/eduardjjoseph

https://twitter.com/TheEduardJoseph

@TheEduardJoseph is an indie author and I've grown quite fond of his writing.  I reviewed the novel God's Gonna Cut You Down previously.  Today's review is on a short story that he wrote.  Since Sam Hain is around the calendar corner, I decided to review Trick-or-Treat.

Trick-or-Treat is a fabulous 19 pages of what a pain it can be dragging a little brother around on Hallowe'en when you'd much rather be at a party down the road with the bigger kids.  The conversation is very realistic.  I feel like I was there.  The characters were true-to-life.  The story is quaint and has a twist.

sapphoq reviews says:  Eduard Joseph has done it again.  An enjoyable story for the season designed to run chills up and down your spine without being ghoulish.  A definite winner!

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!

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Graveminder, Melissa Marr.  New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2011.  e-book, 338 pps.

Rebekkah returns to Clayville after the death of her beloved [not by blood exactly] grandmother Maylene.  She inherits Maylene's house and something else, much to the consternation of Maylene's natural grand-kids.

Maylene's death was a murder and rather mysterious.  A sort of animal had attacked her.  The sort of animal that has to be invited in, offered talk and sustenance.

And then there is Bryon.  Bryon the undertaker's son.  His father dies later on in the book.  Under rather, uh, paranormal circumstances.  Bryon gets the business.

There are some things about Clayville too that are mysterious.  Crime doesn't much happen there.  The citizens of Clayville are protected.  Safe.  Not necessarily in a bad way.  Still, the animal attack on Maylene is troubling.

Rebekkah isn't thrilled to see Bryon again.  They'd known each other in high school and a few other places.  She doesn't exactly care for him.

sapphoq reviews says:  Melissa Marr has written a pretty good book.  I liked Graveminder.  The characters were cool.  I even liked Rebekkah's cat.  Bits in the trailer scene made me chuckle.  And there is a whole other sort of world under a building in Clayville.  That in particular was most excellently done.  If you like the dark and mysterious and don't object to bits of paranormal thrown in along with a dash of romance, Graveminder fills the bill.