Mercy House by Adam Cesare

Harriet Laurel notices the odor the moment she steps inside Mercy House, brought to the retirement home against her will by her son and his wife. In the early stages of dementia, Harriet has grown to resent her daughter-in-law for not providing grandchildren. Yet as she crosses the threshold, she notices her mind begins to sharpen. Then her hate begins to grow. . . .

Arnold Piper, an eighty-five-year-old ex-Marine, has always prided himself on self-reliance. But betrayed by his own body, he’s learning that surviving war-torn Korea was easier than facing the daily indignities of old age. And his worst trials are still to come.

Sarah Campbell, an idealistic nurse, is already stretched thin at the chronically understaffed Mercy House. Now her duties are about to take a terrifying turn. Can she survive the night. . . and her patients?

This is a re-release to be published by Del Rey tomorrow. It was originally published in 2015 by Hydra 

Don and his wife Nikki have decided it's time for his mother Harriet to move into Mercy House. Harriet has never been easy to get along with, but the dementia has removed what little filter she used to have. The other residents in this home have begun a strange transformation just in time for Harriet's welcome dinner. It isn't long before this change overcomes her as well.

What follows is a cannibalistic, blood-soaked gore fest as the staff tries to survive the residents who have turned into rage filled killing machines who occasionally take a break from the murder and mahem to engage in geriatric orgies.

Let me warn you that this book is gross. It won't be for everyone. If you prefer your horror more scary than stomach churning, this will not be for you. This is something that would have given me pause before I accepted an invitation to read this book, had I known ahead of time.

I went along for the ride during the first half of the book, but the repetition began to get to me about the halfway point and by the end I was feeling frustrated at the lack of explanation for what was referred to as the "healing" of these previously weak and feeble residents who were suddenly increasing in strength and size. You may enjoy it more than I did. It's probably a case of it's not you; it's me. This is just not my type.

My thanks to  Del Rey for the e-ARC

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The Witching House by John Everson

 Angry and alone, Gianna tests an urban legend and writes the name Madelyn in blood on the mirror of the Witching House. When the ghost actually answers, she gains an unexpected friend. But soon Gianna learns friendship isn’t what the dead girl wants the most. Madelyn wants revenge for her murder. Can Gianna stop her before half the town is dead?

When Gianna is forced to move out of her school and away from her friends because of her father's new job, it feels like the end of the world. Her pregnant stepmother is treating her like Cinderella, her brother is no help, and the new school is full of bullies.

After a particularly cruel incident, she visits the "Witching House" a burned out shell where 20 years ago a group of vigilantes dealt with the witch in a Freddy Krueger-esque manner. It is rumored that writing the witch's name in blood will call her to you. You can probably guess what happens from there.

I liked Gianna but was not a fan of any of the other characters. Her father especially grated on my nerves as the type of half assed parent you just want to smack and say wake up! This is mainly a supernatural revenge story, so if you enjoy seeing bullies get what they deserve, including some fairly gruesome outcomes, this may be for you.

There are some chilling and creepy scenes, but nothing really fresh or original. Towards the end, it made me think of what it would have been like if, after Carrie had been bullied and tormented, Stephen King had her take an attitude of Oh well, never mind; let's just let bygones be bygones.

My thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC

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Marrow - Movie Review

Scatena & Rosner Films (S&R Films) has acquired worldwide distribution rights to “Marrow”, the latest horror feature from writer-director Mitch McLeod (“Silhouette”), starring Jessica Dawn Willis (“The Woman Under the Stage”, “Death 4 Dinner”) alongside legendary genre actors Danielle Harris (the “Halloween” franchise) and Michael Ironside (“Scanners”, “Total Recall”). The deal was negotiated by Zach Stampone, VP of Distribution at Scatena & Rosner Film, and Executive Producer Carlos Cortez on behalf of the filmmakers. 

Based on a series of real-life police files regarding a stalking in small-town Texas, “Marrow” follows Jamie Foster, a formerly successful vlogger who attempts to revitalize her career by inviting her stalker onto the show—knowing he may be the serial killer responsible for murdering a string of influencers. Although Jamie’s views go up, she begins to realize more than her life is at stake when the stalker’s identity—and humanity—come into question.

I was invited to watch an early screener of Marrow, starring Jessica Dawn Willis as a popular true crime vlogger. As her viewership numbers begin to wane, she takes a bold chance on a mysterious caller who may be responsible for a string of deaths. 

The movie gets off to a slow start with lots of talk and little action. But the creep factor intensifies with the gradual reveal of this mysterious caller's intentions and why Jamie is obsessed with true crime. While the role Danielle Harris plays as Jamie's aunt is smaller, it adds significant impact with a wild backstory.

In a world of social media. blogs, vlogs, and influencers this movie begs the question: how far would you go for followers, comments, and views?

This is a fun watch provided you don't expect to take it too seriously. I rated this a 7 out of 10 stars on IMDB.

View the trailer here

Director 

Mitch McLeod

Writers

 Preston Fassel, Mitch McLeod, Jessica Dawn Willis

Stars 

Jessica Dawn Willis, Danielle Harris, Michael Ironside

 

The Horror Collection Halloween Edition

Halloween is a night of costumes, candy, bonfires, and ancient traditions, but when darkness falls, some legends refuse to stay buried.

Travel to forgotten towns where impossible rituals continue beneath the harvest moon. Meet haunted children, grieving parents, vengeful scarecrows, hungry jack-o'-lanterns, escaped killers, ancient Scottish curses, restless war ghosts, and sinister spirits waiting behind familiar masks. From nostalgic trick-or-treating and eerie small-town folklore to cosmic nightmares, gothic revenge, psychological terror, and outrageous splatter horror, every story captures a different face of the year's most terrifying night.

Featuring twenty-one chilling tales from some of horror's finest voices—including Brian Hodge, Ronald Kelly, Jeff Strand, Jeffrey Thomas, William Meikle, Gord Rollo, Mark Morris, Brian Moreland, John Everson, Steve Stred, Ryan Colley, Veronica Smith and many more, The Horror Collection: Halloween Edition is packed with unforgettable frights, unsettling legends, and haunting surprises.

So carve your pumpkin, leave the porch light on... and pray that whatever comes knocking isn't looking for candy.

These well-crafted tales make for a perfect October read, or if you love Halloween as much as I do, they are a welcome treat any time of year.

Among my many favorites were Ghosts of Candies Past by Jeff Strand in which a  father discovers something unusual when he checks his kids' Halloween haul. You can always count on this author for a few laughs among the gore.

Marrowvale by Kurt Fawver is a chilling tale of secret Halloween traditions and the writer who is invited to view the festivities.

Sweet Tooth by Brian Moreland is about the struggle Helen faces to keep away from the Halloween candy. Although she will face a new challenge this year with one very special trick-or-treater.

The Boy In The Garden by Callum Pearce is the story of a ghostly visitor who has suddenly been appearing every Halloween for the past 3 years. He seems to be coming much closer to the house this year.

John just wants a pumpkin to carve like every other kid in town, but his father won't allow it. Instead, he must have a tumshie. I wonder who will regret it in Tumshieheid by William Meikle.

Morgan Hayden is 12 years old and new in town. He doesn't know anyone, so he's excited when he finally makes his first friend, but soon he will also meet The Pumpkin King by Steve Stred.

No Halloween anthology would be complete without a babysitter alone in the house with a creepy child, which brings us to Watch Over Smiley by Stephen Crowley.

These were just a few of my favorite treats in this huge volume of 21 tales, guaranteed to satisfy your craving for horror set in the most wonderful time of year.

My thanks to KJK Publishing for the e-ARC

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Crone by Keith Rosson

Eli Lamp is a broken man. An ex-detective, ex-addict, and long-grieving father whose daughter, Hannah, disappeared a decade before, Eli decimated his old life investigating her abduction and is now indebted to the Crooked Wheel, a local drug gang, as an enforcer. He lives in a rundown trailer at the edge of the woods, where he keeps Hannah’s room in pristine condition and tries to make it through one day at a time.

But when the son of the Crooked Wheel’s boss is found viciously murdered in a crime scene that doesn’t seem to add up, Eli receives a new order: Find out who the killer is and your debt to the Wheel is clear forever. You’re free. This pursuit brings him into the orbit of Avery Bryant, Hannah’s best friend and the last person to see her before she went missing. Soon, Eli and Avery are entwined in a hunt for answers that spans decades, stretches the realm of possibility, and brings churning to the surface a conspiracy linking not only these current tragedies, but the buried sorrows of Eli’s past.

And though none of them dare say the word "witch," at least not out loud, something lurks in the woods, bent-backed and black-eyed, clawed and vengeful, looming ever closer. . . .

One night, walking home from a party in the pouring rain, 15-year-old Hannah, who is legally blind, accepts a ride and is never seen again. Her best and only friend, Avery, watched her get into the van, and that is all she knows. She didn't see a license plate or who was driving.

I wanted to know more! I wanted this to be about Hannah and the Crone in the woods! Instead, it's more about her father Eli, and how his life spiraled out of control with an especially grotesque addiction to wire, a fictional drug that is shoved under the toenails. Eli is indebted to a drug dealer for some unknown reason that we don't find out about until the book is practically over, in much the way we don't find out what happened to Hannah or anything about the crone until we nearly reach the finale. 
The middle of the book dragged for me. It was more crime thriller than horror and mainly about rival drug gangs and crooked cops.

I loved Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson, so I was super excited to get a copy of Crone. I wanted to love this as much and I tried hard, but just couldn't swing it. I could not really connect with any of the characters. I didn't like Hannah's friend, and I tried to like her father, but he was already kind of a loser before her disappearance. I wanted more than violence and gore, but I stuck it out to the end and was at last rewarded with some answers. Sometimes I wish a book was longer because I don't want it to end. This was not one of those times. I did want it to end once the truth was finally revealed. Instead, it dragged on about Avery's friend, whose name already escapes me because I didn't care about her either. I would have titled this book Wire, since the majority of it focused on the drug instead of the Crone. You may enjoy it more than I did, but this book was not for me.

My thanks to Random House for the e-ARC

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Kinderlieb by Luisa Colón

Every child deserves to be protected, to have a safe space in the world. And a summer camp in upstate New York called Kindlerlieb promised to be just that: a haven for troubled children.

Instead, eight little campers vanished from Kinderlieb in the summer of 1951, leaving behind unspeakable bloodshed, the stunned, grieving community of Leichen County, and something else—a ruthless manifestation of vengeance that's been sleeping fitfully ever since, a protector simmering with rage and ready to awaken when it is needed.

Decades later, when a makeshift family arrives in Leichen County for a weekend getaway, it's time for the protector to rise again—to give love and care to a little girl in need, and a savage comeuppance to the adults in equal measure.

In the third novel by author Luisa Colón, trauma and rage take the unexpected, massive form of something furry, cuddly, and ready to kill.

 

In the summer of 1951, eight children deemed "troubled" were sent to Camp Kindelieb to rid them of behaviors their parents considered unacceptable. They never returned home, and their bodies were not found among the massacred adults.

In the present day, Gage, his girlfriend Andie, and his daughter Lillith arrive in Leichen County for their first "family" getaway. What is expected to be a peaceful weekend in the scenic, woodsy countryside soon yields way to the reveal of dark secrets and manipulative intentions.

Unimaginable cruelty and the supernatural collide in this twisty horror tale that tricked me from the start. I thought this was going to be about evil, creepy children (and I was fine with that), but it is so much more. I alternated between racing through the pages and forcing myself to put it down because I was enjoying it so much I didn't want it to be over. When I did reach the conclusion, I found myself nodding in approval at the satisfying end.

My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications for the e-ARC.

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Descension by Edmund Stone

Something is buried beneath Salt Flat.

When Cole Masters moves his family into an aging house on the edge of town, the worst he expects is creaking pipes and sleepless nights. But the sounds in the walls aren't settling noises—and the darkness under the floor isn't empty.

Miles away, a mining operation shuts down without warning. New owners arrive. Strange cargo is delivered deep below the earth. Then the workers start disappearing.

At first, the two worlds don't connect. A restless child. A cut finger. A vent that won't stay closed. Small things. Easy to ignore. Until they aren't.

As Cole digs deeper—into the town, the mine, and the people who run both—he uncovers something far older than Salt Flat. Something broken. Something scattered. Something that has waited a long time to be made whole again. And it's not staying buried.

Now, with his family caught in the middle and the town unraveling around him, Cole is forced to confront a truth no one else is willing to see:

The danger isn't what lies beneath. It's what's coming up. Descension is a relentless supernatural horror novel about what happens when the ground gives way—and something begins to rise from the dark.

I want to call this small-town horror, but Salt Flat has much more going on than your typical down home folksy characters fending off an unknown evil. When Cole Masters, former small town football star turned wannabe writer, turned cop, moves his family into the creaky old house on the edge of town, don't think those noises in the vent are rodents. And if you say, AHA! it's a ghost! You are way off too. (Although you will meet some ghosts in this novel.)

What is it in that vent? Well, honestly, I am not sure, but it's connected to the mine, which has suddenly been closed by the russian mafia, who you might think have something to do with the deal between the Mexican cartel and the hillbilly drug dealers. Am I giving away too much of the plot? I don't think so because you'll barely be a few pages in when it gets even crazier than this.

There are a lot of characters, but there was no worry of confusing who was who because they were very distinctive and impossible to mix up. Descension is an insane wild ride with nearly nonstop action and suspense and several heart in your throat moments. This was my first read by Edmund Stone, but I feel compelled to read Tent Revival now.

My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing/Sinister Smile Press for the e-ARC.

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Sundowning - A short film

Left alone overnight with her estranged grandmother in rural Scotland, a perceptive nine-year-old girl begins to see dementia transform the woman she loves into something terrifyingly unfamiliar. 

I was invited to watch an early screener of Sundowning, a short horror film that unfolds through the eyes of a child, and her understanding of what is happening to her grandmother.

Claire (played by Betty Pirie) is a 9 year old girl who shows obvious discomfort at being left with her grandmother for an overnight stay while her mom is forced to work a night shift. There is something just a bit off about Grandma during the day, but as night falls and Claire follows her into the woods, it becomes apparent that something is seriously wrong. Maria MacDonell gives a convincing performance with very little dialogue needed to convey that she is not up to babysitting. Sarah McCardie plays Maggie, the harried mom who seems to know that this remote trailer is not the best place for Claire to spend the night, but has no other option.

This film is beautifully shot from the opening frame, which sets the tone for the uneasy atmosphere, to the final scene that stirs a mix of emotion with a touch of dread for Claire's future, which is mainly left to the viewers' imagination.

View the trailer

IG: sundowningshort2026

Producer - Serena Gardner

Writer/Director - Aimie Willemse

Cast

Betty Pirie

Maria MacDonell

Sarah McCardie

She Isn't Herself Tonight by Hailey Piper

 When Rabbit was ten years old, she was abducted by aliens. Then, it happened again when she was twenty. Now thirty, she’s ready for their next visit. What she isn’t prepared for is her boyfriend callously ending their long-term relationship and ejecting her from their shared home.

As her birthday approaches, the aliens still haven’t arrived. Rabbit descends into a spiral of growing paranoia and bizarre bodily transformations, until soon it seems that even her reflection has a mind of its own. With her only refuge being the chaos of strangers who might not have her best interests at heart, Rabbit worries that her ex’s abandonment not only severed her from his life, but also from her own. Struggling to orient herself within a world growing more topsy-turvy by the day, Rabbit must regain control before her aliens at last return.

Brittany, who prefers to be known as Rabbit, the nickname she was taunted with as a child, has been dumped by her boyfriend and put out of her home. Friendless and alone, she rents a room from a couple she barely knows.

In between stalking her ex and watching him walk the dog that she used to think of as hers, she waits with increasing anxiety for the aliens to come and take her. The anxiety is not fear that they will come; it is fear that they no longer want her. They came for her when she was 10 years old, and again when she was 20. It's nearly her 31st birthday, and she is still waiting. Have they abandoned her too? Rabbit feels no acceptance from anyone, including herself. Even her own reflection in the mirror hates her.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. This was my first read by Hailey Piper. Are they all this surreal and poignant? This is a story of trauma, body horror, and a desperation for love in a time of profound loneliness. I flew through this mind-blowing, genre-bending read with a mix of dread and hope for how it would end for Rabbit. 

My thanks to S&S/Saga Press for the e-ARC

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The Memory Tree by Heather Davey

A sinister Gothic folk horror from the bestselling author of The Ghosts of Merry Hall, in which a family in modern day England find their new home beset by the terrifying ghosts of the past. Ideal for lovers of gothic chillers by Laura Purcell, Susan Hill and Rebecca Netley.

When her husband, Ben, takes on his first parish in the rural community of Hope-Upon-Barrow, Kate Greenway feels like it could be a fresh start for the family. But from the moment they arrive, something just feels… off. It could be the mysterious housekeeper, Mrs Butterworth, so demanding and controlling of the family. It could be the locals, with their strange rituals and rites. Or it could be the yew tree which stands in their garden, whose presence brings headaches, visions and disturbing, unfamiliar memories that do not belong to Kate. 

As she investigates the strange things happening to her, Kate begins to delve into the history and memories of Hope-upon-Barrow, and the more she uncovers, the more she risks losing herself to something deadly and ancient. 

Told on two timelines, the present day and the 1800s, this is a story of grief, guilt, strange customs, and how they came to be.

 In the 1800s, we have best friends Octavia, the vicar's daughter, and Alice, whose family owns the nearby farm. When these friends are witness to a strange occurrence at the ancient yew tree and share this information with Octavia's father, tragedy and deception ensues which still, to this day has a hold over the community of Hope Upon Barrow.

In the present day, we have Kate, her young son Noah, and her husband Ben, who has just been appointed his first parish. As they move into the old vicarage by that same yew tree, Noah and Kate are both disturbed by memories that could not possibly be their own. 

That is all I will say about the plot. 

I liked the small community setting with their unnerving superstitions, but I preferred the characters from the past over the present day goings on. I had a lot of empathy towards Octavia and Alice and the gradual reveal of what they endured all those years ago. The climax near the end wasn't the shocking twist it was probably meant to be, because it was too easily inferred long before it was exposed.

My thanks to Titan Books for the e-ARC

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Rooted by Leopoldo Gout

Aurora, a successful art lawyer, has returned to Mexico to celebrate a recent campaign for the repatriation of stolen artifacts. In particular, a mysterious statue of an Aztec god.

There’s nothing wrong with Aurora.

But Mexico City isn’t as she remembered, and as she cares for her ailing mother, home isn’t as she remembered either. Nothing is as she remembered. Elements of her past hint at darkness and power, and reality begins to crack and warp the streets.

There’s nothing wrong with Aurora.

But some sicknesses can’t be healed. As Aurora’s sanity unravels, she must pry apart her family’s secrets and accept the simplest of The Flayed One cannot stay buried.

A quick review of what felt like a very long book for me.

Aurora has been away from Mexico for quite some time, so maybe it's not that unusual that things are markedly changed from her memories. But how can she have memories from before she was born? What mysterious illness is her mother suffering? And is she having some sort of breakdown, or are these dreams and hallucinations real?

I loved the prologue, but it gave away most of the plot.

"Mothers always hide things from their children. It's what we do. We carry burdens so our children don't have to."

History, folklore, body horror, mystery, it's all here if you can wait it out. The pace is very slow. I don't mean slow burn horror; I mean slow as molasses, especially compared to the prologue, which pulled me in right away. I wanted to love this as much as the author's previous book, Pinata, but it was just an ok read for me.

My thanks to Tor Nightfire for the paperback.

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Temporarily Closed

 Dear Readers, thank you for your patience in this difficult time. I will be back when I am able to share my love of books with you.
I will reopen at some point in September. I have much to deal with right now.

Authors/Publishers and PR, please do not send books or requests at this time. If I have already accepted a book from you, I will get to it when I can. Thank you for your understanding.

An Immaculate Deception by Isabela Livino

A debut Gothic horror set in 1870s Brazil—a tale of creeping suspense in which a young pregnant woman finds herself unable to escape her lover’s isolated family home, and a family’s deal with the devil goes terribly wrong.

1877, Pernambuco, Brazil: Raised in a deeply religious household, Madalena knows Dante’s Inferno by heart and fears her mother’s reaction as much as she fears God. When she falls pregnant with a child conceived in sin, her mother issues a threat: marry or surrender the baby. Madalena is confident that the father, the dashing Leandro Neves, will do right by her and propose. But just as she is about to tell him about the baby, a violent storm sends their carriage careening off the road.

Madalena awakens in Leandro’s sprawling, secluded home, under the care of the mysterious and larger-than-life Doctor Lobo. Leandro is there . . . but he is no longer the charming poet she knew. He’s silent. Obsessed. Always watching.

Strange perfume haunts a locked room. Pages vanish from books. Jewels lie untouched in a forgotten wardrobe. And mirrors begin disappearing after Madalena sees something—or someone—ghastly in the reflection.

Leandro is unraveling. Doctor Lobo may be hiding something even darker. Trapped in a decaying house of secrets, Madalena must uncover the truth before the men around her destroy her, and before the hell she fears becomes the one she’s living in.

Madalena is young, pregnant, and madly in love with the man of her dreams. Unfortunately, the year is 1877, when being an unwed mother from a strict family is a worse fate than death. She was sure that the baby's father would ask her to marry him as soon as she told him about it, but alas, a tragic accident means she will never find out what he would have said.

When she awakens in his home after the accident, he is changed towards her. He is acting strangely and downright cold. Is it just shock from the accident or something more sinister? He doesn't seem to want her there, and yet he and the doctor who has been called will not let her leave.

I read this book because it was described as gothic horror, but I think I may have preferred it without the horror; I would have enjoyed it more as just a historical fiction. I was already so intrigued by the story, long before the horror aspect, that when it did come into play, I felt like it was just unnecessary and maybe even in the way. I was stunned by the clever and shocking reveal when we find out why the baby's father has changed towards her, but once that secret was let loose, I felt it should wrap up a little quicker. It stretched on too long for my tastes.

My thanks to Dutton for the e-ARC.

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Steal Me by Helen Grant

 Rowan Byrne hasn’t stolen anything for ages—not since she started to straighten her life out after a personal tragedy. But the volume she’s just picked up in the new bookshop in town seems to want her to steal it. The text is very persuasive. There’s a book for everyone in Legends—a book that will encourage their worst impulses. Steal. Fear. Burn. Kill. It’s not long before Rowan’s small town, isolated from the outside world, is descending into mayhem. Assailed by her own demons, Rowan could try to cut and run. Or she could make a stand, and try to save the community she loves . . .

In a small town where everyone knows everybody else's business, it's odd that a brand new shop could appear seemingly overnight with nobody knowing it was coming. Yet here it is, and Rowan can't wait to get a look inside this new book store. But there's something else that seems off. These are no ordinary books, and one in particular knows her darkest secrets. This is a very special store that captivates everyone who enters with a book meant just for them. It preys on your weaknesses. But why? What secrets do these elderly shop owners hide behind their cheerful facade?

I loved Rowan, and her would-be love interest Jack (if only either of them could muster up the courage to ask the other out!) Beyond the chemistry they had together was their bravery in attempting to save the town from evil. Delving into German folklore, the two unlikely heroes are the town's only hope. 

Steal Me is a fast paced thrill ride through folklore and fairy tale that had me in its thrall from the first page. I don't normally like to compare, but the dark vibes of this mysterious shop and unnerving proprietors reminded me just a bit of King's Needful Things. 

5 out of 5 stars

My thanks to PS Publishing for the finished copy.

A Coven of Witches by Alexis Powell Illustrated by Marina Vidal

 A spellbinding collection of 20 original spooky tales that reimagine witches from folklore, myth, and history.

A girl receives a Christmas gift far worse than coal. An sideshow lures in new recruits. A birthday party turns into a grisly scavenger hunt. A werewolf stalks a ghostly graveyard. A train ride proves quite deadly. These stories are as enchanting as they are eerie, shining a light on the magical world of these legendary witches.

Features stories inspired by Baba Yaga, Marie Laveau, Circe, the Salem Witch Trials, La Lechuza, and more. All brought to life through gorgeous full-color illustrations.

This gorgeous book with glow in the dark cover and beautiful illustrations contains 20 scary stories for kids.

They each have a spookiness rating of 1-3, so you know in advance if it may be too scary for younger children.

Every story begins with its own full color illustration and ends with some fascinating information about the origin of the witch in the story.

The stories are separated into sections of Folklore, Mythology, and History with a brief explanation of each. Of course, my favorites all had the level 3 spookiness rating, but all of the stories are entertaining and sure to grab the attention of young readers without being so scary as to induce nightmares. This is exactly the kind of book I would have considered a treasured find when I was a child. If you are looking to keep your kids engaged in reading over the summer, I highly recommend A Coven of Witches.

My thanks to Gibbs Smith Books for the gifted hardcover.

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The House That Eats the Dead by Max Doty

 A family moves into their dream home—only to discover that it hides an insatiable hunger—in this dread-laced and darkly outrageous domestic horror novel.

The new house is a fresh start for Claire and her family. It's a move away from the cityscape of a declining San Francisco and towards the quiet suburban life she has craved since her turbulent childhood; a step up the corporate ladder for her husband, Tom; and a safe haven for their two children.

Yet as they unpack their boxes, she senses something is wrong. Fresh flowers dry up, store-bought eggs are inexplicably hollow, and her daughter's favorite toy disappears. Claire soon confronts a series of impossible The house is hungry. It's devouring anything that was once alive. And only Claire and Tom, the owners of the house, will remember that this "food" ever existed.

When Claire exploits the house's power in a moment of weakness, she and the house forge a fragile bond. But as its hunger intensifies and Claire loses control, she fears who else might be drawn to her home—and what sinister appetites they’ll bring.

Claire and her husband Tom get a great deal on a multimillion-dollar home. It wasn't that long ago that their teenage son was a victim of assault. This will be a fresh start and a move away from the crime and violence of the city. 

When they settle in, Claire is the first to notice the strange noises and the way items go missing. What's more, she is the only one who remembers that the missing items ever existed. Her husband doesn't believe her at first until he sees it for himself. 

It may sound like something you've read before, but it was quite unique.

This was a fast paced original take that breathed new life into the old haunted house trope. The house isn't haunted; it's alive and needs to be fed. The house is neither good nor evil, merely hungry, but it could be a dangerous tool in the hands of the wrong sort of person.

Although there is a supernatural aspect to the plot, with the house exerting its influence over occupants and even the would-be occupants, that was not the true horror of the story. People change drastically in this house, but it is more an unmasking of their true personality traits than a possession. 

If you are in the mood for a dark domestic horror, full of mystery, suspense, and murder, I highly recommend The House That Eats The Dead.

My thanks to Bantam Books for the e-ARC

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Fugue Devil: Resurgence by Stephen Mark Rainey

If you know about the Fugue Devil, it knows about you. If you see the Fugue Devil, it will come for you.

Many decades ago, summoned by the power of music, the Fugue Devil — a dreadful, malevolent entity from another place — entered our world. Every seventeen years, it reappears to satiate its hunger for unsuspecting souls.

Author Stephen Mark Rainey’s terrifying novelette, “Fugue Devil,” originally appeared in his first fiction collection, Fugue Devil & Other Weird Horrors, in 1992. Now, Fugue Devil: Resurgence features the original novelette; its sequel, “The Devil’s Eye”; and ten more tales of horror and mind-bending terror.

This collection contains 12 short stories, including Fugue Devil and its sequel The Devil's Eye, which were two of my favorites.

In Fugue Devil, the new kid in town is told the local legend about a musician who summoned a demon that now reappears every 17 years. If you know about it, it knows about you! This is the year it is supposed to return. Is it real or just a myth? Two curious teens aim to find out.

In its chilling sequel, The Devil's Eye, a filmmaker has nefarious reasons for wanting to produce a movie about the Fugue Devil with the brother of one of the possible victims.

Other favorites were Threnody, in which a dangerous recording is found in grandpa's cabin after he has passed away, Night Crier, in which mom's dementia becomes too much to bear, and When Jarly Calls about an out of the way wine tasting where the hosts are oddly generous when refilling the glasses. Short Wave had an old school twilight zone vibe; if you remember when the monsters were due on Maple Street, or a bus ride that had an extra passenger, you will know what I mean.

This is one of the best collections I have read this year. If you love dark fiction in short story form as much as I do you need to add this to your shelf.

My thanks to the author for the paperback.

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Contents:

“The Fugue Devil”: A thrilling midnight adventure turns into a dawning horror for two boys.

“Threnody”: A dirge for the dead; if you hear it, it’s too late.

“Night Crier”: A terror in the night that echoes through the years.

“Hell’s Hollow:” Hell is just a stone’s throw away.

“Masque of the Queen”: To read the play brings on madness; to perform the play…

“Somewhere, My Love”: Her music cast a spell because, of course, she was a witch.

“When Jarly Calls”: In this wine lies the darkest truth.

“Messages From a Dark Deity”: When the stars are right, the sky will fall.

“Short Wave”: Voices from the static hint at horrors to come.

“Escalation”: “I am John, your host. I have much to look forward to,” he said with a grotesque smile.

“Pons Devana”: Something inhuman from the future lurks in the shadows of the past…

“The Devil’s Eye”: Will capturing the image of a devilish horror render it powerless? Or simply draw its inescapable gaze to you?

 

Movie Review - The Dollmaker

Argentina I 2025 I Horror, Thriller I 97 minutes

 Dripping with Lynchian style, The Dollmaker (Encantador; Argentina, 2025) is part charming, funny, decidedly weird and enjoyably bloody. Things are not all they seem to be in a cheerfully idyllic town that soon becomes a hotbed of female kidnappings. No one seems to care much about the missing women, including nerdy video store clerk and amateur dollmaker Tomás (Rodrigo Noya.) But when a new inspector comes to town determined to solve the disappearances, Tomás soon becomes the unlikely prime suspect. A horror film that becomes increasingly dark, gruesome, and unpredictable.

Available on VOD August 25

I was invited to watch a screener of The Dollmaker.

This is one of those what in the hell did I just watch kind of movies. The town is described as "cheerfully idyllic" but to me it was just plain bizarre. The "Diner" that serves hamburgers and typical American fare also seems to serve as the local dive bar, the video store is manned by workers dressed as boy scouts who tell you to always be prepared; there are counseling sessions in a multi-purpose building, and the police force is odd. 

The description on IMDB says "In a quiet village, a charming young man named Tomás leads a simple life: caring for his mother, working at the video store and town clinic, and collecting dolls. As women start disappearing, newly arrived Inspector Porter investigates." But I disagree. Tomás was not charming. He was not the kind of person that people would claim to be shocked if they found out he was a killer. He was gawky and awkward, your basic loner lacking social skills. To me, he seemed to be Argentina's version of Norman Bates. I'm not sure who was crazier, Tomás or his love interest who found him "charming."

Can anyone stop him before he adds to his doll collection? Does anyone not notice how weird he is? Is someone keeping his secrets for him? I guess you'll have to watch to find out, if you are in the mood for a surreal, slightly gory, trippy, gross-out horror.

Directed by: José María Cicala

Written by: José María Cicala, Griselda Sanchez

I rated this a 7 out of 10 on IMDB

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Produced by: Abril Cicala

Cinematography by: Martin Nico

Edited by: Cecilia Calarota

Music by: Nahuel Maeso

Starring: Rodrigo Noya, Griselda Sanchez, Lejo Garcia Pintos, Alejandro Baldoni, Santiago Domongues, Eduardo Calvo, Guillermo Zapata, Silvia Petri, Mario Alarcon, Arturo Puig

Nightmare Abbey 10 edited by Tom English

10th mammoth volume of the critically-acclaimed horror magazine/book.

Creepy GHOST STORIES & other WEIRD TALES!

FEAR IN FOUR COLORS (History of American Horror Comics, part 7)

12 terrifying tales by today's top writers!

New HORROR DELVE list: 13 Greatest pre-WWI horror tales

Another chilling visit to Bone Street!

Classic horror movie: Corman's THE HAUNTED PALACE

A new Magnus Supernatural Dog Tale

INDY (the Horror Husky) TAKES OVER!

Art by World Fantasy Award-winner Allen Koszowski

Heavily illustrated: movie stills, comic book covers, cool facts!

Get it now, fellow fiends!

This was my tenth visit to Nightmare Abbey, and as always I enjoyed my stay. This volume felt a little more atmospheric and darker than before. I say that with appreciation, not with disappointment.

 From the first tale, The Grinning Woman by Michael Kelly about a young man who was tormented by night terrors as a child, worsened by the stories his father told him, to the last story, Pardon Our Dust by Steve Rasnic Tem, about a mostly absentee father seeing his daughter off to college with a quick stopover in a hotel that is under endless construction. There was such a heavy, pervasive feeling of danger lurking in this gloomy hotel that is somehow staying run down even while it is being built up.

Other favorites were Mam Gu by Stephen Volk, The Revenant's House by Sean Hogan, and The Bane of Colmonell by Helen Grant.

Heavily illustrated and including glorious still shots from classic horror movies you may have missed out on, Nightmare Abbey continues to be both entertaining and informative. I loved the inclusion of a list of the top 13 Greatest pre-WWI horror tales, some of which I've read and others that I'm now excited to search for.

My thanks to Dead Letter Press for the finished copy.

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Infernal Tramps: Tales of Weird Terror by Alex Grass

 

"Neither his face nor his lips moved when he laughed. It was more a plague of laughter than the sound of it; a pervasion of the hearer's mind by hypnotic disease."

A boy discovers his father's oracular grotesque in a secret dungeon below their family funeral home.

An antique spiked collar transforms Philadelphia into a city that worships a dead dog.

A video game dominates the market for years and then disappears, except for one man's memories of its horrors.

A mother with a trunkful of hungry, inhuman babies tracks down the family that abandoned them.

The warden of a penal colony offers to pardon a murderer, but only if the inmate can find the antidote to the poison wine the warden gave him.

A wealthy young woman receives a surgical implant that delivers more than just a shapely body.

Step into a world of fleshly titillation and fresh terror, a dimension of blood and consequence. But buyer beware! Crack the spine and these dark tales are not so easily forgotten. And you may find yourself changing into a beast of insatiable hunger, a tormented sinner, a lunatic on the fringe.

Heed this warning, that what once is read cannot be unread. Turn back now, if you can, or else become one of the... Infernal Tramps!

In all honesty, I am not the target audience for these type of stories. While I do love short horror fiction, I need a definitive beginning, middle, and ending. Most of these stories had abrupt and ambiguous endings instead of satisfying conclusions. The writing style was more distracting than engaging.

As short as these stories are, there were still a few that I skimmed because they did not grab my interest within the first few pages, and for me that is something important to accomplish when you aren't writing a novel. If the story is going to end in four pages it needs to grab my interest within the first two. A few seemed more like ideas for a story than a completed effort. 

I did enjoy the satirical look at technology and excessive plastic surgery in The EP™ Implant. Likewise, I was thoroughly creeped out by "Odd Egg" which is what a woman finds herself in possession of after she comes home to find a strange man on her porch offering her a free carton of eggs.

You may enjoy more of the stories than I did, but the majority of them were not for me.

I received an advance copy to review.

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The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

 

In 1964, four remarkable young women at a prestigious university became the subjects of parapsychology experiments by a visionary scientist. On the cusp of a historic breakthrough, the women mysteriously vanished and the program was erased from history. Decades later, Riley Bell, newly divorced and desperate for a fresh start, accepts a caretaker job for an elderly widow named Betty. Riley steps into a home that is frozen in another era - no microwave, television, or cell phones, and Betty has never heard of the internet. 

Why has Betty lived in such profound isolation for so many years, and why does she need Riley now? As the story unfolds across two timelines - Betty’s 1960s era of 5 o’clock martinis and high-stakes experiments, and Riley’s quest to uncover the truth about the missing women - old secrets rise to the surface. And the only way to survive is to confront the mystery that has lingered for sixty years.

Told on two timelines, the present day and 1964, when women aspired to be Betty Crocker, (is that why a main character is named Betty?)  this is the story of four young women who endured psychological torture under the guise of parapsychology experiments at a prestigious university.

In the present day, Riley is homeless and penniless, living in her car until she is offered the position of live in caretaker of one of these women, now elderly and in a wheelchair from a terrible accident. Betty wants Riley to help her reconnect with her former friends.

I love a good historical fiction mystery, and I enjoyed the first half of this book a great deal. Betty's point of view from 1964 was especially compelling, as was learning what her friends went through as the experiments became more and more grueling. It was heartbreaking and tragic to find out what happened the day these friends separated. Three of these four ladies were married, but of course all three husbands were too cowardly to stand up for their wives until one finally did when it was too late.

 I was less interested in Riley and her marital discord. The eventual reveal of who has resurrected these experiments and the reasoning behind it left me wanting a better explanation. All in all, an enjoyable read even if parts of it bothered me.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC.

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Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden

Maggie Wise will take your eyes.

When Malcolm was growing up, the local kids made up that chant about his mother, claiming she was a witch. He and his siblings did their best to ignore it. Now, Maggie is dying, and those same siblings have left Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet to hold a vigil at her bedside.

But they’re not as alone as they think they are. A dark figure waits and watches from beneath the willow tree across the street. Hundreds of miles away, an ancient evil stirs in its burrow under a farmer’s cornfield. Across the country, other buried things begin to dream in anticipation of Maggie’s demise. On her deathbed, the old woman elicits a promise from Malcolm, her youngest child―when she dies, he and Violet must return her body to her birthplace in Shediak, Maine.

From the moment she takes her last breath, before her remains are even loaded aboard the baggage car of the Imperial Limited, there are forces trying to stop Malcolm from fulfilling that promise. Violence erupts on the train, evil preys on its passengers, and once the sun goes down, those long-buried things are coming to make Maggie Wise pay for her past. God help anyone who stands in their way.

Malcolm and his siblings grew up in the shadow of their mother's reputation as the town's witch. Now she is on her deathbed and Malcolm is left to care for her alone with his sister-in-law Violet, while his brother and sister seem happy to ignore her, leaving it all on Malcolm's shoulders. This is more than just an emotional burden. Fulfilling Maggie's last request to be buried in her birthplace will set off a gory, savage bloodbath as ancient evil beings try to prevent Malcolm from this task while on a killing spree of anyone who crosses their path.

I am always excited to read a new Christopher Golden, and this one did not disappoint. Carry Me To My Grave is an action packed, fast paced, supernatural train ride through family dysfunction, ancient curses, sibling rivalry, and heartfelt sacrifices. How the author could manage to fit a love story into the midst of all this death, destruction, and blood splatter is beyond me, but he did it. 

I cared so deeply for these characters and was heavily engaged in the juxtaposition of the selfishness of some vs. the selflessness of others. The dangers that lurked around every corner had my heart in my throat, and the suspense was almost too much to bear.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for the invitation to read an advance copy.

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Thorns by Gregory Bastianelli

A deadly contagion spreads throughout the world, while scientists grapple to find a cure before it's too late...

Dr. Monica Cucinotta works on the front lines of a hospital in Cassino, Italy, dealing with a deadly contagion that causes thorns to erupt along the surface of the body. When Monica becomes infected with the virus and must leave the hospital, she begins a journey across the dark landscape of a pandemic world where she meets the best and worst of humanity that tests her belief in science and faith as she struggles to return home to her loved ones.

 

 Thorns is the name of the fast spreading, highly contagious disease that is rapidly causing suffering and death across the globe. There is no cure, there is no treatment.

 Hospitals are overrun, businesses are closed, nobody is allowed to be out in public without a valid reason. Food is scarce, funerals are not allowed, bodies are piling up. One courageous doctor who stayed on at the hospital, choosing to live there so as not to infect her family, gets fired when it is learned she has contracted Thorns. This is her story as she tries to make her way home in such perilous times.

Along the way, she will reflect on how she came to be in this situation, looking back on her choices with both resolve and regret. She will be met with kindness, contempt, and several dangers as she comes into contact with survivors and other infected people while coming to terms with the probability of her own death.

 I usually avoid books that revolve around pandemics, diseases, viruses, etc but being a fan of the author's previous works, I could not keep myself away from this one. Highly recommended to those who are ready to handle it. It may be a difficult subject for some. This is an anxiety inducing medical horror that brings stark reminders of those first early, panic-stricken days of Covid, except that unlike COVID, there have so far been no survivors.

My thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC

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Home Sick by Rhiannon Grist

“The symmetry should have tipped me off.”

After a violent incident at work, Tamsin goes looking for a fresh start in a remote cottage far away from her old life. Here she could make real friends, find a job she loves, become a whole new person, even.

But the solitary cottage is actually a semi-detached, with only a thin wall separating her from a total stranger. Her neighbour is an enigma. Dowdy one moment, vivacious the next, but always wearing an unnerving smile. Tamsin can’t shake the feeling that there’s something wrong with her, especially when she starts experiencing disturbances in her own home.

As the locals share strange stories about her house, and her barely contained paranoia spirals out of control, Tamsin begins to suspect that the past she was so desperate to escape might never let her go.

 

Tamsin has always felt less than. Unwelcome, unwanted, or just ignored. After an incident at work, she left her job, her home, and even her town without a word to anyone. Wanting a fresh start, she buys a cottage sight unseen, based solely on photos and a description on a website.

When she moves in, she discovers it is not as described. In fact, it is a duplex and another woman is living right on the other side of the wall. A strange woman who bangs around at all hours of the night but is rarely seen.

Homesick felt like a combination of folk horror and psychological study of a woman who felt acute rage, shame, and alienation at every slight by others, whether real or imagined. If she was indeed "homesick" it was for a time and place that never really existed for her.

Throw in some creepy rumors about the previous residents of the cottage and what may have become of them, along with the weird happenings Tamsin is experiencing in her not so happy home and you've got a recipe for a spooky good time. 

4 out of 5 stars

My thanks to Rebellion Publishing Ltd for the e-ARC

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Kevin J. Kennedy presents Backwoods

Civilization ends where the back roads begin.

Beyond the highways and city lights lie forgotten places where old grudges fester, dark secrets are passed from generation to generation, and outsiders are rarely welcome. Deep in the mountains, forests, hollers, and farmlands, something waits in the shadows.

In these chilling tales, travelers become prey, families guard unspeakable traditions, and entire communities hide horrors that have endured for centuries. Ancient forces lurk beneath the wilderness, twisted killers roam isolated roads, and the land itself seems determined to consume anyone who dares enter. Here, help is miles away, escape is never certain, and every wrong turn can become your last.

From cursed Appalachian valleys and remote Ozark towns to forgotten forests and desolate plains, some of horror's darkest nightmares emerge from places untouched by the modern world. The monsters of the backwoods are many—some human, some not—but all are deadly.

Featuring an unforgettable lineup of horror authors, Backwoods explores the terror that thrives far from civilization, where the trees grow thick, the roads disappear, and the screams go unheard.

Because out here, you're on their land.

Backwoods contains a spectacular lineup of some excellent authors, and hot damn, I was excited to read this one.

Not all of the stories were new to me, but not only am I ok with that, I was thrilled to see one of my favorite folk horror stories of all time included here, so let me start right off by telling you about The Corn Maidens by Brian Moreland. In 1933, a 14-year-old girl was ostracized by her community. Physically tossed, kicking and screaming while she begged not to be turned away from her family, though they did nothing to protect her. Her crime? A gift that they, in their ignorance, believed to be evil. I envy you if this will be your first time reading this one.

Another favorite was Consumption by Ronald Kelly, told in a down home folksy way. This is the story of a terrible occurrence suffered by Pap Wilson on his way home from digging ginseng, and the bloody aftermath that follows.

Sick 'Un by Elizabeth Massie begins in a one room school house where the new teacher, Miss Jones is trying to ascertain the whereabouts of a missing student. Nobody else seems to be concerned. When she discovers that there is a history of missing students in one particular backwoods family, she decides to pay them a visit. Of course, no good deed goes unpunished.

A young couple's long peaceful drive down the back roads of Maine takes a dangerous turn in The Archer by Glenn Rolfe. If your car ever breaks down on a lonely stretch of road, trust no one!

A man who feels he has been wronged by a neighbor's trespassing goats seeks revenge and finds himself cursed in The Mountain Witch of Old by Josh Davis. Let that be a lesson to you, we all need to get along with our neighbors.

A young man with an abusive father uncovers a shocking secret in The Perfect Hiding Place by Dawn DeBraal. 

I enjoyed all of the stories, but these were my absolute favorites. Whether you like your horror to feature creepy creatures, supernatural beings, strange customs, or mere mortal psychos, there is something for you in the Backwoods.

 My thanks to KJK Publishing

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Movie Review - New Year’s Absolution

 

"New Year's Absolution" follows a group of long-time friends as they gather for their annual New Year's Eve party, where they exchange anonymous resolutions that have brought excitement and change to their lives in the past.

However, this year, a dark resolution - "Kill Someone" - creates chaos when it falls into the hands of Jacob, a stressed police officer, who believes it's a threat against him. What follows is a series of tragic events, leading to escalating tensions, cover-ups, and death. As deep buried secrets come to light, the festive celebration descends into a chaotic and bloody night, forcing the survivors to make a chilling decision...

I was invited to watch an early screener of New Year’s Absolution.

A group of friends gather for their annual New Year's party to eat, drink and be merry. It's all fun and games until someone is left to bleed to death in this outrageous horror/comedy from director Nick Leisure, arriving on VOD from Scatena & Rosner Films on July 14, just in time for Christmas in July.

"The film poses a terrifying question: What if your New Year's resolution wasn't to improve your life—but to take someone else's? Blending suspense, horror, and shocking twists, New Years Absolution turns a familiar holiday tradition into a deadly game of obsession, revenge, and murder."

 In their usual tradition, each friend will anonymously add a resolution to be selected at random. Whoever pulls it out of a hat must adhere to it. This year, when it's Jacob's turn to select, his resolution simply states "Kill Someone." Who would write such a thing? And Why? Was it as random as it's meant to be or was it intended for Jacob all along? Because conveniently, Jacob is a cop who brought a loaded gun to this party.

There were a few laughs and gallons of blood in this frightfully festive seasonal horror. It presents a dark but humorous look at secrets, friendships, and betrayal. I had a lot of fun watching this one and trying to guess who, if anyone, would survive to ring in the new year because, frankly, I did not trust any of these people.

New Year's Absolution stars Michael Copon (One Tree Hill), Josh Gilmer, and Joel Brady (Men in Black 3) alongside Rafael Siegel, Shala White, Victorya Brandart, Siddalee Diaz, and Lamondo Hill II. The film is written by Damion Stephens, produced by Justin Nesbitt, and executive produced by Adam Secondo and Russ Wyluda. 

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Thirst by Darren Simpson

Nobody talks about the strange happenings in Maimsbury. No one speaks of the hooded figures glimpsed in the woods, nor the children's game that went so horribly wrong. But most of all, nobody dares whisper their doubts about the river they have worshipped for centuries.

Like everyone in Maimsbury, Gorse is used to the sacrifices made every spring to the River Yeelde. The life of a farm animal - in return for a year of plenty - seems a fair trade. That is, until a tragedy leads Gorse to a blood-curdling discovery.

Because this year is a Brim Year, and after giving so much, the river needs more than an animal's life to sate its thirst...

* Trigger Warning (non-graphic) animal abuse *

 Three young friends are playing a game in the woods, but only two of them will ever make it home. The villagers of  Maimsbury hold an ominous secret. They know why people disappear from time to time.
Then there is Faye, a girl from a different town where crops have failed, hunger is rampant, and her family is starving. She sees her mother eating less and less so that the few pitiful scraps they have can be shared by Faye and her little brother. She is determined to go out on her own to find work. She makes her way to Maimsbury, where food and work seem plentiful, but so is the danger to outsiders this year.

Thirst is a YA coming-of-age folk horror that pulled me in immediately. The strange customs that everyone is willing to go along with unquestioningly begin to falter when one teen discovers the much darker reason his mother has for making sacrifices to the River Yeelde. I loved the atmosphere and the message about making hard choices and standing up for what you believe in, even when the odds are against you, as one teen discovers that just because it's the way things have always been done doesn't make it right.

My thanks to Pushkin Children's Books.

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