ANIMOSITY by James Newman

ANIMOSITY by James Newman

Published March 15th 2014

Published by Permuted Press

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(from the book description)

Andrew Holland is a best selling horror writer.

Although none of his neighbors read "that stuff", they are proud to know a "celebrity".

But everything changes when Andy finds the body of a murdered child several hundred yards from his front door. Before long the writer's life is in danger as his former friends become monsters - more terrifying than any fictional villains he ever imagined.

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I have always loved books that are written with a writer as the main character. Like I have stated before, it always makes me wonder how much of the character is taken from the actual author.

ANIMOSITY by James Newman is such a story.

The main character Andrew is a writer, a writer of horror. His neighbors on the quiet street he lives on all know his profession and think of him as a local celebrity, even though some just don't understand the "horror" genre.

Andrew loves his house and the quiet neighborhood he lives in. He has recently gone through a divorce that he has finally come to terms with and looks forward to the time he gets to spend with his daughter. But his idyllic setting comes to a crashing halt the day he discovers the body of a murdered child on a construction site on his block.

From that point his life spirals out of control as the friends and neighbors in his community slowly turn on him.

James Newman is no stranger to the crafting of a great story. His past works are all top notch in story and character development. With ANIMOSITY he pulls no punches. Poor Andrew is ran through the ringer over and over as his life is plunged into chaos and despair.  Andrew runs the gamut of emotions as the story progresses. Grief, anger, paranoia and downright fear are all on display.

If you are a fan of the classic Twilight Zone series, you will remember an episode titled The Monsters are Due on Maple Street. This episode deals with mass paranoia that erupts in a small neighborhood that ends with neighbor turning on neighbor. Just take that premise and turn it up about 100 notches to understand what Andrew goes through in the story.

As I was sitting on my porch reading ANIMOSITY I found myself looking over at my neighbors across the street as they sat in their yard. They waved and I found myself wondering what they were saying, could they be talking about me. Could they be saying, "that's the guy who collects all the horror stuff."

That's what such a well written book can do. It affects your real world. It makes you question your own reality in the same situation. What would I do if I was set upon like poor Andrew. Could I survive such an onslaught?

I think I will have to keep a better eye on my neighbors.  Thanks James Newman, you have successfully made me a paranoid mess.

Make sure to pick up ANIMOSITY and James Newman's other great books.

You can order ANIMOSITY in print, ebook and audiobook on AMAZON.



                                                          Jim Coniglio
                                                        06-13-2018

SLASHVIVOR by Stephen Kozeniewski & Stevie Kopas

SLASHVIVOR by Stephen Kozeniewski & Stevie Kopas

Published August 2017

Published by Sinister Grin Press

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(from the book description)

TBA. Pirate transmission.

North America's number one reality television show returns with instant fan favorite Dawn Churchill, a plucky, hometown girl from the irradiated ruins of the former United States. Will she survive the night in the electrified, booby-trapped arena or will one of the serial killers pitted against her come out on top?

Returning slashers include evil animatronic Abraham Lincoln, eight-year-old “Daughter of the Devil” Abadonna, and all-time undefeated champion Denney the Killer Clown. (Plus surprise appearances by mad surgeon Doctor Feelbad, silver-tongued “Charming” Charlie Whitmore, and steel-clawed firebrand Razortooth.)

A night of chills, thrills, and endless buckets of blood. A must-see for Dawn’s innovative use of a shotgun alone. Fun for the whole family!

Host: Mark Winters
Producers: Marisol Martinez, Amy Green, Jacob Graves, Derron James

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Ok, I read a lot of books through the coarse of a year. This week alone I have read 3 books. Luckily one of the books was SLASHVIVOR. I have to say that I have not enjoyed reading a book this much in awhile. 2 days is all it took to read this wild ride in a post apocalyptic, alternate history, bloodbath of a story.

In 1983 the US was virtually destroyed in a nuclear exchange with Russia. The United States as we know it is gone and in its place is a irradiated desert, known to those who live there as The Geiger Lands. Populated by the few survivors riddled by radiation and mutations. And a new threat to make their lives even more miserable, the Slashers. Serial Killers preying on the helpless survivors.

What can these poor huddled masses turn to for relief from their plight. How about a sadistic game show that comes on every few months called Try Not To Die. The contestants, picked by lottery, whether they want to or not are thrust into a deathtrap arena to fight for their lives again the most deranged collection on killers on earth. Most of the populace flock to the games to see the violence and death, most even think it a honor to be in the games, but not everyone. Dawn Churchill does not want to be here. She does not want to be fighting for her life in a game run by The Producers, four of the most powerful people in the Geiger Lands. But she knows that to survive she must do anything she can to out wit, out fight and try to survive.

Stephen Kozeniewski and Stevie Kopas give us a dark and violent world, peppered with some of the most colorfully wicked characters you will find anywhere. Yes Dawn is just a woman trying to survive, but Ellen Ripley, bad ass queen of the galaxy,  would be in awe of the transformation that Dawn has to go through in this story. 

Where this story really shines is in it's collection of Slashers.  How can you go wrong with a killer animatronic Abe Lincoln who spouts historical quotes with a twist. Or a giant killer clown named Denney. A well mannered cannibal (eat your heart out Hannibal Lecter (literally)) Charming Charlie Whitmore, to a 8 year old Demon child, Gimps, a razor clawed mad woman, a mad doctor, more Gimps,,,,the list keeps going. 

Now you might be saying,,"But Jim,,characters like this have been done before",,and you would be right. And that's the rub. SLASHVIVOR knows what it is. This a a bubbling, bloody, music blaring, lights flashing, Theater of The Absurd. The characters are over the top, and they need to be. Not only is this a horror/post apocalyptic story, but it is also a commentary on violence and how people respond to it. The denizens of the Geiger Lands have lost all hope, they long for Try Not To Die. The only escape they have from their horrible lives is to see others die in a spectacle that has been created just for them.

The authors do not pull any punches when it come to the gore. So if you are squeamish, then run away now. (and you probably shouldn't be reading a book blog that revolves around horror novels) 

The story is fast paced and has some great character development. With just enough twists to keep you on your toes.

SLASHVIVOR is the unwanted love child of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and The Running Man, that grew up and kicked it's parents asses.

I could not recommend this book more. 

I hope you have as much fun reading it as I did.

You can purchase SLASHVIVOR in print and ebook on AMAZON. 

To learn more about Stephen Kozeniewski visit his Facebook page.

To learn more about Stevie Kopas visit her website.

                                                   Jim Coniglio
                                                  06/05/2018

 

THE TRAGEDY MAN by Staci Layne Wilson

THE TRAGEDY MAN by Staci Layne Wilson

Publish date May 31st 2018

Published by Excessive Nuance

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(from the book description)

When his boss was murdered, Cary Bouchard’s life began.

For years, timid Cary toiled away in a cold cubicle. He had dreams, but not the courage to pursue them. That is, until he lost his job and found his fortune in a most unexpected way.

Nothing could have prepared Cary for how his life changes: love, money, and fame come to him all too easily. Soon he’s on TV, signing autographs for legions of fans, in love with a beautiful woman, and buying a Manhattan penthouse. Cary’s newfound confidence and cachet elevates him higher and higher.

But what goes up, must come down. Someone is out for blood. When unspeakable horrors and death start to befall everyone around Cary, everything slips from his grasp. His girlfriend, his fame, and finally… his sanity. All gone. A broken man, Cary has nothing to lose as he faces complete oblivion head-on. He does everything he must do in order to uncover the truth about the murder that led to his great fortune. But even if he does, will anyone believe him? And can he even trust himself?

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To start off I wanted to give everyone a little primer about the author, Staci Layne Wilson. She has hand her hands in just about every aspect of the entertainment industry. She has written, directed and produced several movies, hosted several interview shows (including one of my favorites Inside Horror), worked for the likes of Fangoria and Dread Central and has already written several books. The Tragedy Man is her first full length horror novel. (she also wrote City of Devils which is a collection of scary short stories).

It is very easy to give away a spoiler for the story, so I will attempt to skirt around as much main story plot to keep this spoiler free for new readers.

I have always enjoyed it when a writer tells a tale and the main character is a writer. Its makes you wonder how much of the author is in that character. Our main character Cary in a introvert. He works a job he hates for a boss he loathes, and spends the rest of his time at home in his small apartment with his only companion, his bird Tweetie, and his love of writing. He works on his novel, a ghost story, that he just can't seem to nail down. Its hard to write horror when that is a genre he hates and the thought of blood makes him squeamish. But when an opportunity comes along for him to be published, he starts down a road that will raise him up to the ranks of the best sellers, before events spiral out of control and his life descends into confusion, heart break and terror.

Staci Layne Wilson has crafted a fast-paced narrative that build as the story progresses. Her characters are well developed and some you will love, some hate and some get a small chuckle from (Steve Prince or Cleve Barkland, anyone). The story may revolve around one of the oldest tropes used in horror, but the author gives us enough twists and turns to keep it enjoyable.

Overall this is a great story that keeps you hooked from the first page until the shocking finale.

I believe we can now refer to Staci as the Queen of All Media.

You can purchase The Tragedy Man on AMAZON.

You can learn more bout Staci Layne Wilson and her many works at her WEBSITE.

 Jim Coniglio        

05/30/2018        

CANDY by Justin M. Woodward

CANDY by Justin W. Woodward

Published May 6th 2018

Simple Bicycle Publishing

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(from the book description)

Excuse me if I'm feeling sentimental. I might die tonight. My name is Candy Tran. Before I was hunting down serial killers and feeding men to alligators, I was a normal, church-going, tax-paying citizen. Before all of this. I've been given a chance to tell my story, so please, listen closely. This is going to take a while. 

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 CANDY is a hard book to classify. Is it horror? It could be. Is it a thriller? Most definitely. Is it a road story? Why yes it is. Is it a buddy cop story? Well, maybe but without the cops and slightly less buddies. The one thing that truly can be said about CANDY by Justin Woodward is that it is one hell of a ride.

CANDY was originally presented in serial form on the Justin Woodward fan page. I did not get a chance to read it in it serial form, and for that I am so happy. I think having to wait week after week to see what would happen to our anti-heroine would have given me a aneurysm. Once I started reading I could not put it down.

The story is told to us by Candy Tran, an 18 year old fresh off graduation and suddenly thrust into a world wind of circumstance she has no control over. She is accompanied by her boyfriend Nick as they travel cross country on a ever changing and somewhat disturbing odyssey of violence.

Justin's tale is unique and keeps the reader in the dark just as much as the characters in the story. Just when you think you have something figured out...bam...he changes it and your left slack jawed, having to start your thought process all over again. Also extra kudos to the author for narrating the book completely from the view of the main character Candy. He manages to sound more like a teenage girl than my own teenage daughter.

So its a horror, thriller, road movie, even a love story of sorts.

Just think of Quentin Tarantino directing a movie of On The Road with a splash of Natural Born Killers and The X-Files, and you might come close to the story of CANDY.

I really enjoyed this book and have already passed it on to another person to read. (and only because I own a 2nd signed copy). Definitely worth your time to pick up and read.


CANDY can be ordered in print and ebook on AMAZON

You can learn more about Justin Woodward and his upcoming works on
The Justin Woodward Fan Page on Facebook

TIM E. LESS by Lucas Milliron

Tim E. Less by Lucas Milliron

Publish date : May 24th 2018

(from the book description)

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Tim isn't a perfect man. He's not the perfect husband, or father. He's a man struggling to provide for his family. No matter how hard he tries, it's all falling apart.

When it looks like things can't get any worse, the accident happens. Tim can't remember a thing, only the sound of twisting metal, of the nightmares, and of Coyote stalking him through the halls of the Still Water Sanitarium.

Follow Tim on his downward spiral through the asylum, through hell and back, as he uncovers the truth of what happened to his family.

Tim E. Less is a disturbed horror thriller of insanity, chemical seduction, and true nightmares come to life.

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(review based on a beta read manuscript. Some aspects of the story may change in the final draft)

If a book were to have a soundtrack, this one would have a song list containing every trippy, head spinning song ever written. I found the lyrics to an old Monkees song replaying in my head, "Come with me, leave yesterday behind. And take a giant step outside your mind."

Lucas Milliron has crafted a tale that crosses back and forth across the line of what is sane and what is just outright crazy. 

Tim is a hard working man, just trying to do right by his family. He is not perfect and he knows it, but he does what he can. Everything changes one night after a terrible accident that he can not even recall.

Thus starts his harrowing encounters at the Still Water Sanitarium. Accused of a murder he might or might not have committed. Tim's journey will take him to the ends of his own sanity and beyond as he looks for what he has lost and the answers to all his questions.

The author has created a intricate world inside the Sanitarium that is filled with with well fleshed out and entertaining characters. His eye for detail, especially in the more "out there" parts of the novel are truly awe inspiring to read.

This is a story that you really need to pay attention to as you read. The twists and turns come at you at a machine gun pace as Tim flies headlong toward the truth of his lost memories and more importantly, the fate of his family.

The story plays out like a mixture of Shutter Island, Asylum and One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest, with bits of Clive Barker and Frank Kafka sneaking in from the corners. 

A great book from page 1. This should be on your TBR list for this month.

You can find the book in print and ebook on AMAZON

MIND WRECK - SHADOW GAMES by J.Z. Foster

MIND WRECK - SHADOW GAMES by J.Z. Foster

Published March 20th 2018

(from the book description)

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Has anyone ever told you how special you are? How great you could be at anything if you just put your mind to it? They were lying. There are people, Shadows, who really can do anything. They walk like gods among us, speaking with the dead and tearing their enemies apart with a simple thought. Some live unchained by death, and others live without the shroud covering what tomorrow brings. They’ve had the Mind Wreck. It’s when the chemical stew inside your brain begins to boil. All those soft spots start to turn red and bleed as a host of human potential claws its way into you, dragging you into the deep end of the world. Matthew Reed is drowning in the deep end. He’s been thrust into the games, The Shadow Games, where god-like beings vie for control and power, everyone out there is playing their own hand, and everyone has a seat at the table. He’ll have to learn to play quickly because being the son of a powerful Shadow has drawn a lot of attention. Let the games begin.

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MIND WRECK - SHADOW GAMES is the 3rd novel released by J.Z. Foster since the beginning of the year. Yes you did read that right,,,since the beginning of this year. WITCH HUNTER was released in Jan, THE WICKED ONES (my review of which appears on this blog) was released in Feb and this novel was released in March. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two, but this 3rd outing is the best yet.

I have to admit that reading this book made my head hurt. Not in a negative way, but because the authors narrative is so descriptive that you feel part of the story. Coming across like a mix of Cronenberg's classic Scanners and Gaimen's American Gods (not bad material to be associated with), the story builds and builds into it's own incredible mythos. There are no wasted moments here. Characters are built up and well formed. The pacing is done to a tee, the action never stops or lulls. The ride begins with the first sentence of the Prologue and carries you to the final page.

Matthew Reed is just a everyman, suffering from migraines he cant control and dreams he does not understand. Enter his father, whom Matthew thought was dead, and his world suddenly becomes a roller-coaster ride he can never come back from. Since I hate spoilers, that's about as much story info I want to give. Just let me say you will not be disappointed by this story.

MIND WRECK - SHADOW GAMES is the opening salvo on what could be an epic series. And J.Z. Foster has set himself up to be a literary force to be reckoned with in the coming years.

MIND WRECK - SHADOW GAMES can be purchased on AMAZON.

For more about J.Z. FOSTER you can visit his website HERE.


                                                                                           Jim Coniglio
                                                                                       04/21/2018

THEY FEED by Jason Parent

THEY FEED by Jason Parent

Publish date : April 15th 2018

254 pages

Published by Sinister Grin Press

(From the book description)

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The night uncovers all we wish not to see.

A troubled man enters a dusky park before sunset. A young woman follows, hidden in shadow. Both have returned to the park to take back something the past has stolen from them, to make right six long years of suffering, and to find justice or perhaps redemption—or maybe they'll settle for some old-fashioned revenge.

But something evil is alive and awake in those woods, creatures that care nothing for human motivations. They’re driven by their own insatiable need: a ravenous, bottomless hunger.

The campgrounds are full tonight, and the creatures are starving. Before the night is over, they will feed.

An unrelenting tale of terror from Jason Parent, acclaimed author of People of the Sun and What Hides Within.

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The Great Outdoors.....camping, hiking, fishing and all the other outdoorsy things that people do. Me,,not so much. As a youth I loved camping, but as I aged my body decided it didn't like sleeping on the ground or having to start a fire to warm your body up and make some tea.

Well...about 2 chapters into THEY FEED by Jason Parent, I have decided to to never even think about going camping at the State Park ever again.

Jason Parent has given us a truly gruesome tale of tragedy, revenge and monsters that plays out like a extended episode of The Outer Limits. This story would also make a great evolution/continuation of the classic story The Raft from Creepshow 2.

Tyler has just been released from serving a six year sentence for a murder that was committed while hunting at the State Park. But Tyler knows there is more to the story and heads back to the park for answers. Little does he know that he has been followed by someone with their own agenda. As the evening progresses, Tyler will find himself fighting for his life with a small group of others. Can the rickety shack they have all found themselves in protect them from the monsters that are hunting them?

This is a great creature story from start to finish with a cool horror movie vibe. If you are a reader like me, you picture the story playing out in your head as you read. I could see the black leach-like monsters that Jason has created, as they roll and leap after their victims. Hear the screams of the doomed and feel the adrenaline of those trying to escape. The characters that populate the story are well developed and I found myself rooting for them. (Well, except for 3 of them your will have to encounter for yourself). And the ending twist caught me totally of guard.

It takes an truly accomplished author to really transport someone into their story, and Jason Parent has done that wonderfully with THEY FEED.

THEY FEED can be purchased HERE

To learn more about Jason Parent you can visit his website HERE

(Thanks to Sinister Grin Press and Hook Of A Book for the ARC)

                                                                                                                                  Jim Coniglio

                                                                                                                                  04-15-2017