Bad Parts by Brandon McNulty

When rock guitarist Ash Hudson suffers a career-ending hand injury, she seeks out the only thing that can heal it--her hometown's darkest secret.

For decades the residents of Hollow Hills, Pennsylvania, have offered their diseased and injured body parts to a creek demon named Snare. In return, Snare rewards its Traders with healthy replacement parts. There's only one catch: if Traders leave town, their new parts vanish forever.

Ash wants a new hand, but living in Hollow Hills isn't an option. Not when her band is one gig away from hitting the big time. Desperate, she bargains with Snare, promising to help the demon complete its organ collection in exchange for both a new hand and the freedom for everyone to leave town.

As her band's show rapidly approaches, Ash teams up with her estranged father in a last-ditch effort to recruit new Traders. But not everyone trusts Snare's offer, and Ash soon learns how far her neighbors will go to protect their precious parts.

With her family in danger and her band waiting, Ash must find a way to help Snare. But even if she succeeds, there's no telling what Snare plans to do with everyone's bad parts.

I love a good home town horror story. You know the kind, small towns with dark secrets that are only as as safe as the weakest link. Outsiders are not welcome and are steered away or killed. What differs here from that usual formula, is that an insider becomes an outsider, and her return is the threat. Ash knows what goes on at the creek in Hollow Hills, or at least some of it. She doesn't know the full scope of the creek demon's hold over the town.  She cut ties with her father years ago and never looked back. Nothing could make her return to her childhood home, until a savage attack leaves her hand injured beyond repair. I was fascinated with the whole family dynamic. The love and resentment felt very realistic, as we learn what had transpired between Ash and her brother Trent, which is mirrored in the strained relationship between Trent and his son. While at it's heart this is a horror story of a demonic spirit seeking revenge, it is the selfishness of some characters juxtaposed with the selfless acts of others that most impressed me, along with enough gruesome acts and blood curdling scenes to keep this horror fan turning the pages.

5 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy for review.

Get a copy
About the author
Brandon McNulty grew up loving monsters, demons, and the thrill of a great scare. Now he writes supernatural thrillers, horror, and other dark fiction. He is a graduate of Taos Toolbox Writers Workshop and a winner of both Pitch Wars and RevPit. He writes from Pennsylvania.

Website

https://www.brandonmcnulty.com/