Deadsville

Deadsville is a horror collection from the minds of T.D. Trask and Dale Elster. After a little poem appetizer, we dig right in to the main course!

The Pit- (Dale Elster) Here we learn the consequences of when you cross the fine line between being a tool and full on douchebaggery. 

Knacker Man- (T.D. Trask) A tale of the beliefs that carry in small towns, go bump in the night and ensure you know when it's time.

What Happened on Black Hill Road- (Dale Elster) Time to believe that legends will come back to get what they were promised in the first place. Comes complete with flamey bits.

Knew It All Along- (T.D. Trask) Psychics, serial killer truck drivers and rivers! Oh my!

Still Water- (Dale Elster) Are you ever really certain you're seeing things correctly? That you're really bringing about a solution and not just another problem?

The Other Redeemer- (T.D. Trask and Dale Elster) Theological discussions and unearthed secrets are often paths to destruction. Or murder. Whichever comes naturally.

Tree Branches in the Water- (T.D. Trask) There are times when you need to act and do whatever you can for family. And then there are times when you should go with your first instinct.

A Job's a Job- (T.D. Trask) Even the Devil has to think of new way to collect souls, but you'd think he would have done this one already.

A Crack in the Window- (Dale Elster) The monsters aren't in the closet, children, they're everywhere. And no stuffed kittens can protect you.

Knock Knock- (T.D. Trask) Sometimes you're so sick, you hallucinate someone at the door. Sometimes you're so sick, you need a hammer to go whack whack whack.

Head Shot- (Dale Elster) Zombies are the products of conspiracy theories. And drugs.

The Children in the Meadow- (T.D. Trask) Family farms are a strange thing. They seem to attract all sorts of interesting things that seem to cloister themselves in one part of the farm. And they know you'll be back because you'll always be back.

Dead Bird Waltz- (Dale Elster) Vampires hunt humans. Humans hunt vampires. Oh to dream of family before the fire.

And our time in Deadsville comes to an end. Hope you enjoyed your stay!

Suicide Station

I was introduced to this book via Kindle Scout. It didn't get picked up via scouting, but it still got published. The snippet on Scout intrigued me, so I picked it up when it got published and got down to reading.

Suicide Station is Jack Wallen's odd little take on death. He's introduced us to Foster Donovan, a comedian with the yips who decides to end it all. He thinks he'll be missed, but if his wife's reaction is any indication, the answer is "uh no," possibly "uh hell no."

Foster winds up in a purgatory like place called Suicide Station. It's where he has to get used to death before he's shipped off to his final, erm, well resting place doesn't sound right and final destination is a film series, so we'll just go with final spot on the map.

After death's minion dumps Foster off in purgatory, he meets Candy. Candy's job is to get him acclimated before the spot on the map thing can happen. Candy likes what she sees and decides to break the rules for the death marked comedian.

After the initial meeting with Candy, Foster meets his roommate David David, pothead extraordinaire. Some dinner, some flirting, some ganja, some speculation and then Foster is back in his life again.

Wait...what? He's living again?

Yep, apparently Foster went and found himself a little loophole and wouldn't you know it? The end comes up the same way, with some minor variations when he returns to the Station.

Going much further than that would spoil things and the odd little journey of Foster Donovan really deserves better than that.

So keep the dead baby jokes to yourself and give the book a try!

The Enemy Held Near

The story is told through multiple viewpoints- the Turner family, Melinda Goshen and Xandra. Through various experiences, they all wind up at the ancestral Turner family home.

Melinda and Xandra are expendable, but the ghosts of the Turner family want Foster to keep Ruthie and their girls in the home. Family must stay together you see.

Not everyone has been able to stay together though. Foster's parents died and he was raised by Uncle Duke. Uncle Duke tries to control things throughout most of the story, but even he can see the family's history can't continue.

Ruthie is focused on escaping the Turner home with her daughters. Due to her past, she might have been seen as easy to control to keep around, but inner strength is enough to conquer most demons.

Maggie is able to see the family ghosts while Heather is just a teenager.

The family's killer history comes to a head, just not in the way anyone really wanted. Prices are paid and now they must remain hidden.

There are so many twists and turns, you really have to read the story in one sitting to make sure you're keeping it all straight. Thankfully the story is so engaging, that's not an issue.

Enjoy!

Z-Minus

So I got a message via Goodreads:

Hi Bazi,

I saw your review of The First Days by Rhiannon Frater on Goodreads and thought you might be interested in a novel I read recently that is in a similar genre.

It's called Z-Minus, by a writer called Perrin Briar. [blah blah blah filler filler filler blah blah blah] 

Thank you for your time.
Dewi

Since I read the message before I drank any coffee, my morning sarcasm kicked in and I thought many things along the lines "Bot spam," but looks like the book was legit, so I picked it up and made some coffee.

The start of the book reads like a disaster movie- blurbs from experts, social media excerpts, etc. After we get past that, we're introduced to Chris.

Chris is pretty oblivious to the start of the zombie apocalypse until he runs into a neighbor who fills him in and gives him a copy of his "bible"- World War Z.

Not only is Chris oblivious to what's going on around him, he shuns the remaining living member of his family because he's not sure if he got infected while he was at home. Chris agrees to take his daughter, Maisie, to her aunt's house. The aunt isn't around, so Chris reasons Maisie needs to be with her grandmother and the best way to do that at the start of an apocalypse is to commit grand theft auto.

Grand theft auto is followed by random road stupidity, revelations and idiots dying zombie.

And then more blurbs.

After reading the book, it took me a really good chunk of time to think about what I was going to say because it was a struggle to finish the book and not say screw it and delete it from my Kindle. Quite frankly, it reads like a B movie script and to know it continues for another two books is pretty #$%@& painful and there's no way in hell I'll be reading them.

Alone: A Zombie Novel

I became a fan of Kate L. Mary ever since I gave Broken World a shot. I've followed Axl and Vivian's story and when I heard she was releasing a new book, I pre-ordered it.

Now imagine my surprise when I sat down to read the book that she felt the need to explain that while this was set in the same universe as Axl and Viv, it was not an Axl and Viv story. Ok, no worries, whatever.

I got fully absorbed into the story of Jules and Roman in their community of Coastal Manor. Jules is the transplant- her father shipped there to bring everyone into line with what Atlanta wants. Roman is the native son of the community's leader, who we later discover is a total asshat.

Time passes and eventually Roman and Jules discover they mesh, regardless of what anyone else thinks. However, things come to a head and it becomes obvious to them everything sucks and they need to figure somewhere else to be.

That plan turns out to be the wrong idea and suddenly we're in a race against time to save a loved one.

And there isn't a happy ending.......because it's the goddamn zombie apocalypse where life isn't sunshine and rainbows.

However, the author acknowledges that people are going to be a little pissy about how things turned out and it made me a little sad. People should understand zombies equal mass death and while there will be happy moments, not everything has to go their way.

Dead is dead. Either deal with it or stop reading zombie stories.

I'm interested to see which way things go if this storyline continues.

Best Horror Shorts: 2015

There's no intro, so lets just hop right on in there!

The Crow Scare- Mandi S. Lockley kicks things off with a crow who proves that when you screw with animals, they return the favor tenfold.

A Flash Of Light- Stuart Conover introduces us to Justin, who's just woke up from a fever. He's not totally certain of what's going on around him, but he soon learns he's not truly in control.

City Park- John A. Karr starts off with Marcus, who teaches us a valid argument for staying home with a pastry and coffee. We then meet Lars who discovers what happens when some dumb hick gets a hold of ancient magic.

The Initiate- Edward Ahern provides us with a really valid reason why neighbors are a bad idea.Walt is no prize pick either, but no one really deserves that. Just stick to watching them through the mini blinds in the living room.

The Tracks of Ridge Rock Station- S.H. Mansouri tells us about revenge via train. All Elmer wanted to know is what happened to Thelma. Prices to pay and exchanges to be made.

A Mouth Full of Spiders, A Gut Full of Snakes- Rhoads Brazos's nameless character is living in a time where life as we currently know it no longer exists. Don't reveal too much though, there are curses about.

A Campfire Tale- Shannon Hollinger's Fran tells a tale that shows what can happen in real life is far more horrifying than anything a screenwriter could think up. Don't forget to say you met her!

Harlequin Midnight- S.E. Casey shows us one family waiting through a tradition for their children. They have to make it home by midnight. In the end, it's all hilariously sad, so please don't interfere.

Open, Locks, Whoever Knocks- Timothy C. Hobbs has a mirror that isn't quite what it seems. Are you sure you're seeing what you see or is there something else there?

The Village of Sirenas Caida- Rebecca Carter wraps things up by warning us of siren songs.



If that was the best of 2015, I can't wait to see what 2016 brings!

Corpus Deluxe: Undead Tales of Terror

This horror anthology with an intro by Jorge Salgado-Reyes talking about his thoughts on horror and one of his own experiences into the unknown. He then wishes us well on our journey through the disturbing things these story tellers will put into our minds.

A Tale Of The Undead- Tony Dews's investigator has a great amount of curiosity that takes them to Scotland after reading about an unsolved happening with several mystery elements in it- four people dead and no way to truly explain it. Through "local" research, the investigator learns what must come next....complete with sharp object......

Night Class- David Jon Fuller's student studies martial arts with a very stern teacher. He's tested and comes out on top. Student surpasses master. Student becomes master. Drinks?

Lorscapedia- Edward Ahern's lovers learn a very hard lesson when it comes to messing with the locals and their traditions. Change happens for some easier than others.

Blood Bond- Druscilla Morgan and Roy C. Booth present their take on Jack the Ripper. All it takes is one slip and messing with the wrong person. As you stare at the walls, you can wonder if that one insult had been worth it.

Night Shift- Jan Goeb's night watchman is a pleasant fellow, taking us through his life watching over the dead and the perils he has to deal with. Except for zombies. Epoxy and shrink wrap keep them at bay.

Lucky Chucky- Stuart Conover's Chuck thinks he's the luckiest man around after getting to safety with a survival enthusiast. After all he must be lucky since he's come through the beginning of the end with just a scratch, right?

Amongst The Dead- R. Thomas Riley gives a slice of history via the Alamo. Zombie changing history.

The Death of Halpin Frayser- Ambrose Bierce.....yes, the Ambrose Bierce who wrote The Devil's Dictionary. What? There is nothing that says an anthology of horror needs to be made up solely of contemporary materials. Tcht, fine. Moving along.

Stiffed- Ken MacGregor and Kerry G.S. Lipp meet death with a sense of humor. Jason never intended to have his day wind up the way it did, but what if it was hereditary?

Chooser Of The Unslain- Cynthia Booth and Roy C. Booth introduce us to Hans, a soldier in Germany. He believes an encounter with a Valkyrie tells him to hunt for a man, but was he more damaged by that pipe?

River Red- James S. Durr presents a horrific fairy tale. Jealously is an ugly thing, isn't it Fiona?

Night Walker- DJ Tyrer presents a story about a family massacred and the things seen in the night after the event of that night. What was that tall man after?

Carlsen's Plastic Tarps- Roy C. Booth and Axel Kohagen shows containment of the undead. Don't ask unless you're really certain you want the answer.

The Vampire Costume- Daniel S. Duvall reminds us to be careful what we wish for, especially on Halloween.

No Rest- Rose Blackthorn presents what happens when you don't have enough sleep. The waking dead if you will.

What Are You?- Brian Lu shows that when the dead rise again, the worst thing to come from this won't be the zombies, it will be the living.

Battle of Bones- Robert E. Howard talk about the horror of betrayal and fits the French in there.

Blood Of Nyx- Our last story is actually a book excerpt from Druscilla Morgan and Roy C. Booth.

Overall, not a bad collection.