Horror Galore: 300 Fantastic Fright Flicks You Might Have Missed by Nathaniel Tolle

I watch a lot of horror movies and I'm always on the lookout for hidden gems. This book has tons of films I've never heard of before, and the ones I've already seen I've loved. Plus, anyone who appreciates the genius that is Basket Case 2 has a trustworthy opinion.  

I love reading books with horror movie recommendations, but I always find that the movies suggested are more serious fare, while I'm more into cheesy, so-bad-they're-good movies. I'm so happy to have found a book that has recommendations for both! Whatever your personal preference, this book has a horror film for you. And they're divided into sections based on specific subgenres (like How to Cook Forty Humans and More Reasons to Get a Vasectomy), so it's easy to find whatever you're in the mood for.

I noticed a bunch of the movies mentioned are available for free on Tubi and I plan on using this book as my Tubi movie guide, because I never know if the horror movies on there will be good bad or bad bad. I've already watched a few movies recommended in the book and they were weird and cheesy in the best possible way. I can't wait to watch more!

Book Review: Silence in the Woods by J.P. Choquette

Most people are wary of Shiny Creek Trail, located deep in the Green Mountains of Vermont. There are stories about hikers and hunters who have gone missing in the area, and rumors of a "man beast" seen in the same location. In 1917, a group of photojournalists head into the woods to capture a photograph of the legendary monster to skyrocket them to fame and fortune. What they find in the caves of the forest is far worse than any beast.

Silence in the Woods by J.P. Choquette puts an interesting twist on Bigfoot stories, adding an extra supernatural element. The story actually begins a few months after the trip to the woods with the main character, Paul, in an insane asylum and what happened on their adventure is slowly revealed in alternating chapters, focusing mostly on Paul and his wife, Jane.

I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction and I was a bit concerned that the language used would be hard to read because the novel takes place in 1917, but the dialogue sounded modern, which I enjoyed, but could be a problem for readers who are looking for something more authentic.

This is a fast-paced read that I read in one sitting (it's only 214 pages), and I recommend it for Bigfoot fans, or fans of supernatural thrillers in general. Silence in the Woods is the first book in the Monsters in the Green Mountains series.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: The Beast of Brenton Woods by Jackson R. Thomas

I love werewolf books, so I was really looking forward to reading The Beast of Brenton Woods and it did not disappoint. 

Everyone in town has heard the notorious legend of the white wolf of Brenton Woods, which supposedly was responsible for many murders in the 80s. Recent gruesome deaths have led a few members of the local law enforcement to believe the white wolf is back, while others will need to suspend their disbelief if they want to help save the town from the savage beast.

The Beast of Brenton Woods is a quick and fun read with tons of gore—which is to be expected of a novel about a monster that rips its victims to shreds. The action starts on page one and the frenetic pace doesn't let up until the end.

The ending left a few questions unanswered, so I'm really hoping Jackson R. Thomas will write a sequel. I would really love to read more about the beast of Brenton Woods and see what happens to the characters in the future.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: The Dark Game by Jonathan Janz

When 10 authors are invited to a writing retreat/contest at reclusive writer Roderick Wells's secluded estate, they can't believe their luck at getting the chance to be mentored by a literary genius. Not to mention, one winner chosen by Wells will get $3 million and a publishing contract. But the writers soon come to realize maybe they weren't so lucky after all when they start disappearing one by one.

I'm a huge fan of Jonathan Janz and his latest book, The Dark Game, did not disappoint. I love books about writers, especially when those books contain excepts from the characters' works in progress. Several chapters in The Dark Game are excerpts from the novels the writers in the book are working on at the retreat. I especially liked how one of the characters was writing a book called The Siren and the Specter, which is another Janz novel.

Even though there are a lot of characters in the book, I found it easy to tell each of them apart because they were all well-developed and each writer had a distinct voice and writing style. I also really enjoyed the slow reveal of each character's dark past.

The setting—an old mansion in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by spooky woods—was made even creepier by the fact that the writers had to wear blindfolds while they were chauffeured there, so they had no clue where they were. There are lots of scenes with the characters exploring the mysterious grounds that add to the eerie mood.

If you're a horror fan and you haven't read Jonathan Janz yet, you should definitely check out his work. The Dark Game is a creepy and fast-paced read with excellent characterization. I also highly recommend Janz's other novels, Children of the Dark, The Sorrows, and The Siren and the Specter.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: The Window by Glenn Rolfe

When James gets the chance to spend the rest of summer vacation with his father — instead of living with his mom and her new boyfriend in a new town — he's thrilled. So is his father, Richie, who has been having a rough time since the divorce. When Richie sees something in the window that offers him a way to indulge in his deepest, darkest desires, he gives in, not thinking about the consequences. Only James notices something different about his dad and can stop the demon from permanently possessing Richie.

The Window is a coming-of-age horror tale in the vein of IT by Stephen King, Children of the Dark by Jonathan Janz or Ghoul by Brian Keene, but instead of battling a monster, the 13-year-olds in this book deal with demonic possession.

The characters are well-developed and relatable. I really cared about them and I was upset when horrible things happened to them (especially at the end). It takes a while to get to the action because a lot of time is spent getting to know the characters, but it's definitely worth the big pay off at the end.

If you're looking for a dark and unsettling coming-of-age horror novel with great characters give The Window a try. I've read two of Glenn Rolfe's other books, Boom Town and Chasing Ghosts and I highly recommend those as well.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: The Haunting of Henderson Close by Catherine Cavendish

After she's laid off, goes through a divorce, and her daughter moves to Australia, Hannah decides to move to Edinburgh for a fresh start with a new job as a tour guide in Henderson Close, a supposedly haunted tourist attraction. She soon discovers the stories about Henderson Close aren't just rumours when she sees a spirit for herself.

I've read and enjoyed pretty much all of Catherine Cavendish's books and The Haunting of Henderson Close is no exception. She always writes such relatable and interesting characters, like the main character in this book, Hannah.

I loved the setting of this novel—a haunted tourist attraction—and thought it was very spooky. I read this book late at night and was creeped out, jumping at every noise, thinking there was a ghost in my apartment.

If you're looking for a spooky ghost story I highly recommend The Haunting of Henderson Close!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: Disco Deathtrap by Cameron Roubique

After four students from DeAngelo High are killed in a drunk driving accident, an English teacher and a gym teacher team up to organize an all-night lock-in at Rollerville Roller Disco on New Year's Eve 1980 to prevent losing more of their students. Sadly, they would've been safer anywhere other than Rollerville, which is rumoured to have been built over a cemetery. With a blizzard piling snow against all the emergency exits and a chain on the front door, there is nowhere to run once the slaughter begins.

I'm a huge fan of '80s slashers and I'm always looking for books that have a similar plot and style to the movies that I love. Disco Deathtrap perfectly captures that '80s slasher feeling and reads like a VHS horror flick you rented from Blockbuster. I enjoyed every minute of it and can't remember the last time I had this much fun reading. I had been in a bit of a reading slump before I started Disco Deathtrap and I'm so happy that it brought me out of it!

Other slasher novels I've read have had one-dimensional, stereotypical characters, but Cameron Roubique spends a lot of time introducing and fleshing out the large cast of characters before the action starts so I really cared about them when bad things started to happen. Another pet peeve of mine is when novels have a lot of characters and they're too similar and it's hard to tell them apart, but each character in Disco Deathtrap has enough unique characteristics to easily differentiate them from each other.

Obviously, since I'm a slasher fan I'm also a huge fan of gore and Disco Deathtrap has TONS of blood and guts. There's also a real '80s feel with lots of references to songs playing at the roller rink, fashion, etc.

If you're a fan of '80s slashers, definitely check this one out. I can't wait to read his other books, Kill River and the sequel, Kill River 2. Hopefully Cameron Roubique will be writing more "Year of Blood" books like he mentions in the Afterword of Disco Deathtrap.

Rating: 5/5

Five Catherine Cavendish Book Reviews

Damned by the Ancients is the third book in the Nemesis of the Gods series by Catherine Cavendish, but you don't need to read the others in the series to understand the plot of this one. I really enjoyed the second book in the series, Waking the Ancients, and I enjoyed this book just as much.

Ryan, his wife, Yvonne, and their nine-year-old daughter, Heidi move into Villa Dürnstein in Vienna, the former home of Dr. Emeryk Quintillus, an archeologist obsessed with Cleopatra. After they move in, strange things start happening, like Heidi suddenly being able to speak another language, and Heidi seeing a man in the basement that no one else can see. Dr. Quintillus won't stop until his beloved Cleopatra is brought back to life...even if he has to use a child as the vessel.

I was looking forward to Damned by the Ancients since I read the last one in the series, so I had high expectations and it did not disappoint. Cavendish is excellent at creating relatable characters and I truly cared about the family in this book.

I thought this book would be very similar to the last book in the series, but in addition to Dr. Quintillus's odd obsession with Cleopatra, and the haunted Villa Dürnstein, there were a lot of other spooky elements added. I loved the scenes with the creepy doll, the cat that protects Heidi and secretly talks to her, and how Dr. Quintillus forces Gustav Klimt to use ashes from Cleopatra's mummy.

The ending left an opening for a sequel and I really hope Cavendish writes another book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

After Stella's cancer goes into remission, she decides to move to a peaceful small town with her husband to recuperate. But Priory St. Michael is anything but peaceful. There are rumours that something horrible that happened in the apartment before they moved in. Stella seeks the help of a Wiccan woman and learns that a succubus and incubus might be lurking in her new home.

I love Catherine Cavendish's writing, so of course I enjoyed The Demons of Cambian Street. It has everything I've come to expect from a Cavendish book: atmospheric, creepy, with relatable characters that you care about.

This spooky novella features a Halloween seance, so it would make a great Halloween read, and at just 97 pages it's a quick read and could easily be read in one sitting.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Becky is a maid at Stonefleet Hall and she hates cleaning Miss Abigail's room. There's something sinister about the bedroom, not to mention the blood stain on the floor that always reappears, no matter how hard Becky scrubs it. When she finds a doll made of feathers and wax, and people in the house start dying, she knows something is terribly wrong at Stonefleet Hall.

Miss Abigail's Room is like a creepy version of Downton Abbey, and I'm a huge fan of that show, so I enjoyed this novella very much. If you're a fan of Downton Abbey and creepy stories, check this one out, you won't be disappointed.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Elinor has been in a deep depression since her husband and daughter died. She hasn't been able to keep a job, and is deeply in debt, plus she has horrible nightmares on top of all her other problems.

Suddenly, her nightmares stop, she lands a job interview, and her life seems to finally be back on track. At the same time, several people are found dead with their eyes scratched out, seemingly murdered but ultimately deemed as gruesome suicides. Elinor's best friend Marnie thinks Elinor's newfound happiness is connected with the suicides and and enlists the help of Hazel, a woman who has had a similar experience with a demon. Together can they stop the devil inside her?

The Devil Inside Her was a heartbreaking story. I felt so sorry for Elinor. Just when she thinks things are turning around her life gets even worse.

I've read almost all of Cavendish's books and while they're always very atmospheric and eerie, this one is also fairly gory, which I really enjoyed because I'm a gorehound. So, if you're looking for a read that is atmospheric but also doesn't skip on the gore, The Devil Inside Her, is the novella for you.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Nadine, Maggie, Gary, and Nick, have each done horrible things in the past that they've kept secret. When they're all invited for dinner by Erin Dartford, a famous fashion writer, they all wonder why they've been chosen. Someone knows their deep, dark secrets and waited a long time for their chance at revenge.

Cold Revenge is a unique novella in that it had me cheering for the evil to win because once I read their horrible secrets, I felt that they deserved something bad happening to them. I did feel sympathetic toward one character who truly did regret his actions, but the rest seemed very cold and awful. But having unlikable characters isn't necessarily a bad things because it's very satisfying when they get their comeuppance. So, if you also find it satisfying when terrible things happen to terrible fictional characters, read this novella.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix

Kris Pulaski used to be the guitarist in a heavy metal band called Dürt Würk. Right before they hit the big time, the band's frontman, Terry Hunt, decided to go solo as Koffin, becoming rich and famous so fast it's as if he sold his soul to the devil.

Twenty years later, Kris works at a Best Western and finds out, via a giant billboard, Koffin is returning for a farewell tour. The information floods Kris with past resentment and anger, fueling her to embark on a journey to confront Terry and find out what really happened on the night the band broke up.

I loved this book! The journey Kris goes through is so epic, it's reminiscent of Lord of the Rings. The plot has lots of twists that I didn't see coming and scenes that shocked me, making me stay up late reading to see what happened next.

Kris was such a kickass heroine. She goes through so much in this book—crawling through tunnels, watching people die in front of her, being held prisoner at a rehab centre, and so much more—and never gives up, she just keeps fighting. All the characters are relatable and I liked all the bandmates Kris reunited with along the way.

You don't have to be a huge heavy metal fan (I'm not) to enjoy We Sold Our Souls. There are probably lots of references to metal music that went over my head, so if you're a fan of metal (or just a horror fan) you need to read this book.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

BOOK REVIEW: The House by the Cemetery by John Everson

Every town has that notorious house where - if the legends are to be believed -something horrible took place and is now haunted. In Bachelor's Grove, that house is in the woods next to a cemetery, and according to the rumours, it was once occupied by a witch. It's a spooky old house and seems like the perfect place for a haunted house attraction to a man named Perry. He recruits his carpenter friend, Mike, to repair the house before the Halloween season. But there might be some truth to the stories about the witch, as Mike, Perry, and several haunters and hauntees come to discover.

The House by the Cemetery reminded me a lot of a B horror movie. It was a fun and gory read. I loved all the horror movie references. Each room in the haunted house was inspired by a different horror movie (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Curtains, among others) and they were designed by the haunters, who love horror movies - two were even nicknamed Argento and Lucio.

The only part of the book I found lacking were the characters. In true B movie fashion, the main character, Mike, wasn't very bright and at times I just wanted to yell at him. There were a lot of characters and sometimes I had a hard time keeping them straight. I had an especially hard time telling Jeanie and June apart. Their names were similar, they were both makeup artists for the haunt, they both loved horror and Halloween, and they were both interested in the same guy. But I still found all the haunter characters, and their love of horror and Halloween, relatable.

Although I didn't love all the characters, I still enjoyed the book. If you're a horror movie fan looking for a book to read this Halloween, The House by the Cemetery would make a great choice.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: The Siren and the Specter by Jonathan Janz

I loved both Children of the Dark and The Sorrows by Jonathan Janz, so I was really looking forward to reading The Siren and the Specter, and it did not disappoint.

Alexander House is a famously (supposedly) haunted house, recently purchased by a couple planning to turn it into a tourist attraction. They ask David Caine, an old friend and skeptic who writes books that debunk famed "hauntings," to investigate Alexander House, hoping he will write about having a supernatural encounter in the house, thereby attracting tourists. David assumes this is like all the other "haunted" houses he's written about and is prepared to disprove yet another legend. But Alexander House has a dark past. It was the site of horrible crimes committed by Judson Alexander, a depraved man who still haunts the house, as David is about to find out.

This was a very spooky haunted house story. All the scenes with "the long bedroom" creeped me out so much. Judson Alexander was a great villain and I really enjoyed the parts of the book that spoke of the disturbing things he did in the past.

The only problem I had with the book was that the main character, David, was unlikable and I had a hard time understanding some of his motivations and his selfishness - at least until a bit of his childhood was explained later in the book. I had a hard time rooting for him, but I liked Sheriff Harkless and David's love interest, Jessica, so there were a few characters I could connect with.

The Siren and the Specter is an unsettling ghost story that would make an excellent Halloween read this October.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: The Second Wife by Catherine Cavendish

Crossroad Press has recently published new editions of five of Catherine Cavendish's novellas: Cold Revenge, Miss Abigail's Room, The Demons of Cambrian Street, The Devil Inside Her and this one, The Second Wife.

When newlywed Chrissie Marchant moves into Baron Grove, her husband Joe's home, it becomes apparent that he may not be completely over the death of his first wife. A large picture of Emily Marchant still hangs in the living room, the house is still decorated just as it was when she died and Joe refuses to change anything. After a few unsettling experiences are accompanied by Emily's signature scent of vanilla, Chrissie realizes that maybe Joe's first wife hasn't moved on either.

I'm a huge fan of Catherine Cavendish. This is the sixth book I've read by her and she never disappoints. The Second Wife is a creepy and atmospheric ghost story.

The characters are well-developed. Chrissie is a relatable protagonist and her reasons for not wanting to leave after her ghostly encounters are understandable (her sister lives on the other side of the world and Joe is all she has) and make the story more believable, keeping me from constantly wondering why she didn't just leave every time something freaky happened to her. I hated Joe and didn't understand what Chrissie saw in him...I guess he's a rich and handsome doctor, but keeping a shrine to your dead wife after you remarry is weird and creepy.

At 110 pages, this is a quick read and can easily be read in one sitting. The novella gets to the spooky scenes by the second chapter and never lets up the suspense until the satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended for fans of gothic horror, ghost stories, or anyone looking for a chilling read.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: Waking the Ancients by Catherine Cavendish

In 1908, Lizzie Charters accompanies archaeologist Dr. Emeryk Quintillus on a dig in Egypt, unaware of his obsession with Cleopatra and his plan to bring her back to life using Lizzie's body.

In 2018, Paula and her husband, Phil, have relocated to Vienna for Phil's job, signing a three-year lease a breathtaking mansion with a too good to be true price tag. Paula soon realizes the reason for the low price when Phil goes away on a business trip, leaving her in the house alone. Strange occurrences lead Paula to discover the previous owner of the estate was Dr. Quintillus, who is still trying to find a way to be with his love, Cleopatra, even through death.

I love Catherine Cavendish's writing. Including Waking the Ancients, I've read five of her books (so far) — Linden Manor, The Pendle Curse, Dark Avenging Angel and The Devil's Serenade — and I've enjoyed all of them. Cavendish is great at writing detailed descriptions that immerse you in the story and establishing an eerie atmosphere. 

The most important part of a novel to me are the characters and Cavendish writes believable and relatable characters. I've been trying to not only read more horror books written by female writers, but to also read more horror books with strong female protagonists, which all of Cavendish's books feature.

The plot of Waking the Ancients is unique, combining the real history of Cleopatra with a fictional story about the supernatural.

This book is the second in the Nemesis of the Gods series, but each can be read as a standalone novel. I haven't read the first book in the series, Wrath of the Ancients, and I wasn't confused at all, but I enjoyed this book so much I'll definitely be reading the first book. The third book in the series, Damned by the Ancients, will be released October 23 and I'm already counting the days! I highly recommend Waking the Ancients to anyone looking for a creepy supernatural tale.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: The Breeze Horror by Candace Caponegro

Bloodshot Books 2017 edition

When a space shuttle carrying toxic waste collides with a meteor, contaminated rain pours down, infecting everyone it touches, causing their bodies to decompose, but leaving their minds intact. The frightened residents of Sea Breeze Island quarantine the infected on the beach. The "beachers" come to resent the "norms" and plan their revenge, becoming more sadistic as their bodies become more decayed.

A different kind of zombie book, these zombies—or beachers—aren't interested in eating brains. They prefer inflicting pain and torturing the norms. The beachers aren't brain-dead monsters. Their anger and hatred of friends and family is because of how they were treated after they became infected.

It's refreshing to read a book that lets you get inside the head of a zombie. They had motivations and personalities, just like the rest of the characters. It's always more interesting when a villain isn't just inherently evil. I even felt sorry for a few of them. Are the monsters the unlucky ones caught in the rain, or the ones who refused to help the infected?

Onyx 1988 edition

But I don't think what the beachers do to the norms by the end of the book is justified by any means. It gets pretty gory and definitely isn't for the faint of heart.

Although I could empathize with the beachers, the norms were even more compelling characters. I was rooting for the main character, Sandy, and her young son, to get off the island and escape the beachers.

The Breeze Horror was originally published in 1988 and recently republished by Bloodshot Books. Contrary to the original cover (pictured on the right), no killer curtains make an appearance. Highly recommended for zombie fans looking for something different.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: The Cliffhouse Haunting by Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross

Cliffhouse Lodge is a hotel with a dark past. In the 20s, a spirit known as the Blue Lady was spotted just before a murderer dubbed the Bodice Ripper struck on the hotel grounds. Now, guests of Cliffhouse are once again reporting Blue Lady sightings. These are soon followed by murders that have the Sheriff of Cliffside baffled. The owners of Cliffhouse think the murders have a connection with the Blue Lady and help the Sheriff to figure out the mystery.

That description of the The Cliffhouse Haunting makes it sound darker than it is. Although it has some gruesome murder scenes and features a psychotic killer, it's also quite humorous. Especially the chapters involving a character named Constance Welling. Pardon me - Constance Welling, authoress. The humour element of the novel sets it apart from other haunted hotel novels. I spent a good chunk of the novel laughing rather than being scared. That being said, a few of the murder scenes did make me gag a bit. The murderer in this novel is truly sadistic.

The characters are what make this novel a good read. I loved all the chapters involving a crazy guest of Cliffhouse named Constance Welling. She's definitely one of those characters that you want to see killed, making it even sweeter when/if it happens. Dr. Siechert, who carries a severed finger around in his pocket, is another funny character, but in a more darkly humorous way.

If you're looking for a book that makes laugh on one page and cringe on the next, you've found it. The Cliffhouse Haunting is an entertaining novel and is available for a mere $5 on Kindle.

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: Santa's Little Helper by H.D. Gordon

I usually choose books to read based on the season, and try to read a Christmas-themed horror novel each December. This year I read Santa's Little Helper by H.D. Gordon. The Elf on a Shelf is already disturbing - watching you and reporting back to Santa - and this novel takes it to a whole new level of creepy with a demonic version.

Santa's Little Helper is a toy elf and book that appear on the doorsteps of four families in a small town called Peculiar. The children in each family quickly realize there's something sinister about the elf and get rid of it. But they find out it's not that easy to get rid of him when he comes back to terrorize their families.

The book has some unsettling scenes with Santa's Little Helper taking the shape of the children's worst fears including an abusive father and Special Ed (a corpse named Ed which I found to be pretty scary). The chapters involving being snowed in with Santa's Little Helper were also creepy - especially when the power went out.

There were a few too many characters. I had difficulty keeping track of which child belonged to which family. And since each chapter features a different family, it took a while for me to remember what happened four chapters ago. I think the novel would've been more effective with just one or two families. It was also unrealistic that each of the 5-year-olds could use such a large vocabulary - it would've been easier to believe if the kids had been older.

The ending feels abrupt and I wish there had been a better explanation of the origins of Santa's Little Helper. There's a bit of backstory about how Peculiar is a town where strange things happen, but I still wanted to know more about the origins of Santa's Little Helper.

Despite those few complaints, Santa's Little Helper is a good Christmas horror read. I realize it's a little late to review this, being Christmas Eve and all, but I just finished reading it today.  

Rating: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW: The Montauk Monster by Hunter Shea

Remember when a "monster" washed ashore on a beach near Montauk, New York in 2008? Everyone speculated on the origins of the creature and most believed it to be a bloated animal carcass. But some remain convinced it was an experiment gone horribly wrong at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, which is located near Montauk.  The Montauk Monster by Hunter Shea builds a fictional story around this bizarre urban legend.

It's summer in Montauk and there's more to find on the beach than sandcastles and sunbathing beauties - one night, two bodies are discovered torn to pieces. When police receive several reports of animal attacks, they assume the same animal is responsible for the deaths. But the creature running amok in Montauk is far worse than a rabid dog.

There are many books about creatures ruining summer fun - Jaws, Night of the Crabs and Slime come to mind - and The Montauk Monster is a great addition to the list. What sets this novel apart from other creature features is this monster isn't your typical animal, like a shark or crab. And the fact that the monster in the book is based on a true story makes it all the more unsettling. The conspiracy theory surrounding the "Montauk Monster"and the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (I learned all about this when I watched Unsealed: Conspiracy Files on Netflix) gave this novel an interesting twist.

The Montauk Monster is an action-packed novel that would make a great movie - it reads like a better version of one of those cheesy Syfy creature features. Definitely recommend reading this on the beach this summer.

This post is part of The Montauk Monster Tour. Check out the other posts here.

Rating: 4/5

Book vs. Movie: The Lords of Salem

The Book

I wasn't aware that Rob Zombie had released a novel version of his film, The Lords of Salem, until after I watched the movie. I put a hold on the book at the library immediately, hoping that it would clear up some scenes I found confusing in the film - which it did.

I'm unsure how much of the book Rob Zombie actually wrote, since it says "with B.K. Evenson" in smaller letters on the cover. I'm assuming that Rob Zombie wrote the film script and B.K. Evenson turned it into a novel.

The Lords of Salem begins in 1692, with John Hawthorne and a few others executing a group of witches. But before the men have a chance to kill the coven, one of the witches puts a curse on their descendants.

In the present day, radio DJ and recovering addict Heidi Hawthorne is seeing things in the vacant apartment at the end of the hall and is having intense, realistic nightmares. Things keep getting stranger when a package arrives addressed to Adelheid Elizabeth Hawthorne in a wooden box with an odd symbol on it. Inside is a record from an unknown band called The Lords. When the song is played on Heidi's radio show, it puts the women of Salem into a trance which drives them to mutilate themselves and anyone near them. The Lords of Salem are back and ready to get their revenge.

The book adds a lot of scenes that are omitted from the movie. The first 40 pages are dedicated to the execution of the coven in 1692, which is only shown briefly in the film. The book also shows what happens to a few women when the song is played on the radio, while the film only focuses on Heidi. There is also more detail on Francis, the Salem Witch Trial expert, in the book than in the movie, which only shows him in a few scenes.

The story is the same as the movie, but there are still enough differences to enjoy both. It's not like other books made into films I've read that are identical to each other.

The Movie

I love Rob Zombie's non-Halloween horror films, so I knew I would probably enjoy this one, and I did. The Lords of Salem is very different from his other films. It's not a slasher and it doesn't have buckets of gore. Instead it relies more on atmosphere. I watched this alone, late at night, and it gave me the creeps. It has lots of disturbing imagery and made me jump quite a few times.

The cast in the film was awesome: Dee Wallace, Patricia Quinn, Judy Geeson, Meg Foster, Ken Foree, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Sheri Moon Zombie...and the list goes on.

The only thing I didn't like about the film was that it could be confusing at times. Especially the ending, which was the main reason I wanted to read the book.

I actually prefer the movie over the book (possibly for the first time ever) because the imagery in the film trumps what I could imagine in my head while reading the book. The book is still worth a read because it adds more details and it's entertaining, but if you only have enough time/money/effort for one, I would go with the film.

A soundtrack for The Lords of Salem was also released.

Book: 3/5

Movie: 4/5

Book vs. Movie: Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day! In honour of the special day, here's a post comparing the book Valentine to the film adaptation of the same name.

The Book

I saw the film version of Valentine before I read the book written by Tom Savage (I only recently became aware of the book's existence), so I was surprised to find that the book is a thriller and not a horror novel. It focuses more on suspense than gore while the film is a slasher. The plot in the book barely resembles the plot in the movie.

The book is about Jillian Talbot, a bestselling mystery author, who receives threatening Valentine's Day cards and is the victim of other unsettling pranks in the days leading up to February 14. She becomes convinced that an old classmate, Victor Dimorta, is the one behind it.

In college, Jillian was part of a clique where each member was named after a different element: Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. On Valentine's Day, they played a cruel prank on Victor, resulting in his expulsion from college.

When the police tell Jillian that they can't help her, she hires a private investigator to find her stalker, but the closer it gets to Valentine's Day, the less time there is for Jillian.

There are so many parts of the book that I love and wish they had included in the movie. In the book, the killer elaborately plans the murders, using the clique's nicknames - Earth, Wind, Fire and Water - to end their lives. He also plays the song "My Funny Valentine" before he kills them because it's the song that was playing when they pulled the prank on him.

The killer also has a better motive in the book. By pulling a prank on Victor, the girls essentially ruin his life (or so he thinks). When he's expelled, he's sent home to his abusive father and things just get worse from there. College was his chance to get away from his family and the girls ruined it. This makes his character more believable than in the film.

The biggest difference between the book and the movie is that the murders take place over the span of a few years instead of in succession. The murders in the book each have their own chapter, shown from the killer's perspective while he reminisces about them. 

My favourite part of the novel was the twist at the end. When I saw the quote on the cover of the book from James Patterson - "Suspense with a twist." - I spent the entire book trying to figure out what it could be. I thought I knew the identity of the killer since I had already seen the movie but I didn't think that was much of a twist. Eventually I started to think maybe they changed the ending for the movie and I was blown away by the ending of the book.

Seeing the film first didn't take away my enjoyment of the book and I recommend anyone who enjoyed the movie to check out the novel.

The Movie

Five young women who have remained friends since middle school are the targets of disturbing pranks - creepy Valentine cards and chocolates filled with maggots - before Valentine's Day. When one of them dies, they realize the pranks are more than sick jokes.

The Valentine cards are signed with the initials J.M. which leads them to believe they're from Jeremy Melton - a boy who asked them all to dance at their middle school Valentine's Day dance and they all rudely rebuffed. But one of the girls kept a secret from the others. When some boys caught her making out with Jeremy under the bleachers, she was humiliated and lied, saying he attacked her, resulting in him being sent to reform school.

While their friends are being picked off, they try to figure out which man in their lives could secretly be Jeremy Melton.

Since they turned the novel into a slasher, the body count is higher than what it is in the book and the deaths are more gruesome and unusual. But I enjoyed the gory death scenes. I think the only thing missing from the novel is gore and that's the reason why I tend to choose horror novels over thrillers. I especially like the death by Cupid's arrows and the maggot-filled chocolates.

In the book, the killer is cold and calculating, taking several years to think of the perfect plan for revenge - going to lengths to incorporate their nicknames into their deaths and ensure the deaths happen on Valentine's Day. The killer in the film is the typical slasher psycho - he wears a mask (a Cupid mask that was worn at the middle school dance) and kills several people in a row as gruesomely as possible with little thought behind it.

In the film, the women remain friends, whereas in the book the girls stop being friends after college (Jillian doesn't speak to them after the prank). Each character in the movie is a cliche. There's the Smart One, the Sexy One, the Fun One, the Nice One and the Fat One (or the Formerly Fat One). The characters in the book are described more realistically, although the book doesn't focus on the other women nearly as much as on Jillian.

There are a lot of differences between the book and the movie, but these are the major ones.

The Verdict

The novel is much better than the film. They took a suspenseful psychological thriller and turned it into a run-of-the-mill slasher. The only things the two have in common are the basic plot - a spurned classmate gets revenge on the girls who rejected and humiliated him - the disturbing Valentine cards and the climax taking place during a Valentine's Day party.

I still do like the film (I have a thing for slashers), but when comparing it to the book, I realized that it's just your typical slasher, nothing special. Unlike the book, which has a twist ending which I didn't see coming even after seeing the movie first.

I would give the book a 4/5 and the movie a 3/5 rating.

A Bunch of Book Reviews

I haven't blogged much in the past few months and now I have a lot of books to review. So I'm going to review them in groups rather than a post per book because otherwise I won't get around to reviewing them all.

Slugs by Shaun Hutson

I thought this book about human-eating slugs would be more entertaining than it actually was. The main character - the health inspector, which he is referred to in the novel so much that I don't remember his name - was so dull. The characters were all one-dimensional, boring and I really didn't care if they were eaten alive by slugs or not.  And the explanation behind why slugs suddenly grew teeth and started taking bites out of people made no sense.

Okay, I guess maybe I expected too much from a book about killer slugs. I didn't completely hate it - there are a few good, gory scenes that I enjoyed. If you read it with low expectations then you might like it more than I did.

This was also made into a 1988 film of the same name. I haven't seen it but I think the story might work better as a movie.

Rating: 3/5

Mandibles by Jeff Strand

This is another book about killer insects, this time ants.

I enjoyed Mandibles much more than Slugs. It's funnier, has more interesting characters and the existence of the giant killer ants is explained better and actually makes sense (as much as the thought of insects eating humans can I suppose).

The Kindle edition is available for only $2.99.

Rating: 4/5

Stranglehold by Jack Ketchum

As I've already said before on this blog, Jack Ketchum is my favourite horror author. So when Crossroad Press started releasing some of Ketchum's novels as cheap e-books, I was thrilled and bought a bunch of them for my Kindle - including this one.

Stranglehold reminds me a bit of The Girl Next Door because they both deal with child abuse, only this book isn't quite as gruesome. It's still very disturbing and realistic though. I don't want to give too much away about this book so I'm simply going to say it's amazing and I think all horror fans should read it.

Rating: 5/5

The Nightrunners by Joe R. Lansdale

This book is a lot like the movie Straw Dogs, but with a supernatural twist.
After a woman, Becky, is raped, she goes on a vacation to a cabin with her husband, Montgomery, to help them forget about it. Montgomery feels bad about his inability to protect his wife and claims to be a pacifist to cover up the fact that he's a coward.

The man who raped her is sent to prison and hangs himself. But he was the leader of a gang that is involved with an evil entity called The God of the Razor. It wants death and destruction - and for them to finish what they started and kill Becky.

The Nightrunners is incredible - definitely one of the best horror novels I've ever read. It's suspenseful, has an interesting plot and likable characters. If you haven't already read it, do it now!

This is the first book by horror legend Joe R. Lansdale I've read, but after reading The Nightrunners, I'll definitely be reading more. I bought The Complete Drive-In because I heard it was good, but have yet to read it.

Rating: 5/5

Ghoul by Brian Keene

Like It by Stephen King, Ghoul is a coming-of-age tale where a group of kids battles a monster. The trio of boys in this book make a clubhouse in a cemetery where they come across a ghoul.

I loved everything about this book - I even liked it more than It (which I found to be waaay too long and boring in spots). I highly recommend it to all horror fans.

Ghoul was made into a movie for Chiller which aired April 13 starring Nolan Gould (Luke on Modern Family), but unfortunately I couldn't watch it because Chiller isn't available in Canada. Hopefully it comes out on DVD soon so I can watch it. Has anyone seen it? I'm curious if it was as good as the book.

Rating: 5/5

Suffer the Flesh by Monica J. O'Rourke

I actually hadn't read anything by Monica J. O'Rourke when I interviewed her last year for Women in Horror Recognition Month. In the interview she said "My co-author (Wrath James White) said he approached me to write Poisoning Eros with him after reading Suffer the Flesh because he was shocked a woman had written it. I get that a lot, how people are surprised a woman could write something so extreme. I’ve been told I 'write like a guy.'" That made me want to seek out her work even more. When Suffer the Flesh was released as an e-book for a mere $2.99, I bought and read it immediately.

I can definitely see how others could be surprised that a woman wrote it. Suffer the Flesh is extremely gory and features many rape scenes. It's about an overweight woman (Zoey) who is captured off the street in New York after browsing the self-help/diet section of a bookstore and is taken to a secret research centre where they "help" women lose weight by raping and torturing them. 

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was suspenseful - I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to find out how (or if) Zoey would get out of this situation. I also found Zoey to be a very sympathetic character. I could relate to her weight loss struggles and hoped she would get out of there alive. I recommend this book for people who can handle extreme gore - including sadistic rape.

Rating: 4/5 

Dismember by Daniel Pyle

This is a backwoods novel with a twist. When a young boy is "rescued" by a man who lives in the woods after surviving a car wreck he has no idea that worst is yet to come.

Then the narrative moves forward several years and the boy has become a man not unlike his captor. Now he's looking for a new family to replace his.

The only thing I enjoyed about this novel was the first chapter. The plot is boring and excruciating slow. It took me a whole month to read Dismember and I struggled to finish it. There's no action or suspense. Other than the car accident in the beginning, there are maybe two deaths in the whole book. With a title like Dismember and a cover with a bloody axe, I expected it to have much more gore.

If you're still interested, it's available for Kindle for $3.99, but I recommend skipping this one.

Rating: 2/5

Super Fetus by Adam Pepper

When a fetus realizes its mother's intentions of having an abortion it begins working out so it can stand a chance against the doctor. But when it defeats the doctor its mother takes matters into her own hands....

Super Fetus was the first bizarro book I've read and I enjoyed it a lot. Weird and disturbing yet highly entertaining. At times I would be laughing, then read the next few pages and stop reading in disgust. Well, there were only a few moments in the book that I found gross, but they were very gory/disturbing (just thinking about them now makes me shudder). Recommended for horror fans looking for something different and humorous.

Rating: 4/5