THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER by Jonathan Janz

THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER by Jonathan Janz

Publish date September 6th 2018

Published by Flame Tree Press

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(from the book description)

When David Caine, a celebrated skeptic of the supernatural, is invited by an old friend to spend a month in “the most haunted house in Virginia,” he believes the case will be like any other. But the Alexander House is different. Built by a 1700s land baron to contain the madness and depravity of his eldest son, the house is plagued by shadows of the past and the lingering taint of bloodshed. David is haunted, as well. For twenty-two years ago, he turned away the woman he loved, and she took her life in sorrow. And David suspects she’s followed him to the Alexander House.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am just going to say it right off the bat, I love this book. Back in April 2018 I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the book from Jonathan to read. I was blown away from the first page and finished the whole book in two sittings. 

Then the hard part came. I COULDN'T TALK ABOUT IT!!

The publisher, Flame Tree Press wanted to keep it quiet until it had the opportunity to produce the ARCs and get them sent out. I had just read this great book and could not share it with anyone except my wife. Who, as strange as it is because she lives with me, hates scary stories. 

When the ARCs arrived I reread it.  So needless to say I have been running this review over and over in my head for several months, wondering if I could do it justice. Hopefully I can. 

Over the many, many (and still many), years I have been reading horror, I have read hundreds of ghost stories. Haunted houses, haunted cars, heck I can even remember one of a haunted ski lift. There have only been 3 that I truly think are the best Ghost Stories ever put to paper. (These are my picks, yours may vary.) 

They are THE SHINING by Stephen King, THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley Jackson and GHOST STORY by Peter Straub.  Now I need to add a fourth to that list. THE SIREN AND  THE SPECTER by Jonathan Janz is that good. Now I know some are probably saying "But those are classics", and yes they are. But they didn't start that way. Once upon a time they were a new release just like THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER. It's the readers who raise the book to that status, and I don't see anything standing in the way of this one quickly rising to a modern day classic..

 I don't need to go to far into a description of the story. You can get the feel from the description at the beginning of this review taken from the book cover. And too much information could let loose a spoiler which I do not want to happen. The author creates some truly frightening moments throughout the book. Many will have you on the edge of your seat and making sure some extra lights are on around you.

The Alexander House is as much a character in the story as David, Anna or any of the others. Jonathan makes it feel alive, threatening and very, very deadly. The author's ability to build a totally convincing world will draw you in. Not just the Alexander House, but the area surrounding it, the forests, the lake. You feel like you are there. Which is not bad during the few quiet moments, but others will just make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

If you have read any of Jonathan Janz's other works, you know that he is a master at creating characters. Here his expertise is on show again.The main character David Caine is a skeptic, he is here to debunk Alexander House. But when things start happening his beliefs start to waver. Here is where he becomes such a believable character. Unlike some stories where the hero hears a noise and runs into guaranteed danger to see what it is, David is not afraid to just run. That is what most of us would do in that situation. You have a bad feeling about something, you don't rush in head first. This is David's reaction. He is wary, he is cautious, and he knows when it is time to beat feet and head the other way. As the story progress, so does David. His character becomes stronger, more sure.

Every character that the author has created here feels alive and believable. From the smallest part to the main players. He connects you to each one, you worry about them, you cheer for them and in some cases you despise them. But no character is wasted. There are no throw away parts here, each person has a role to play as the story barrels to it's shocking conclusion.

This book is sure to be on everyone's Top 10 list this year and for years to come.

With THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER, Jonathan Janz has firmly cemented himself in the role of master storyteller.

You can order THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER from AMAZON.

To learn more about JONATHAN JANZ and his other works, and for news and updates, visit his WEBSITE.

To learn more about FLAME TREE PRESS and all the other great books they have coming out you can visit them HERE.

DOORBELLS AT DUSK edited by Evans Light

DOORBELLS AT DUSK edited by Evans Light

Publish date September 3rd 2018

Published by Corpus Press

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(from the book description)

Doorbells at Dusk is a treasury of brand-new Halloween tales from both modern masters and rising stars of dark fiction, horror and suspense.

Halloween has always gone hand-in-hand with horror. The holiday gives many children their first taste of terror, the discovery and overcoming of fears. For those who find they love a good scare, that first taste can grow into a voracious appetite.

That might be why you’re looking at this book right now. If so, you’ve come to the right place.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you have been in a store lately, any store, you will see Halloween decoration and candy already lining the shelves. Halloween time is here already.

Just in time to help kick off the season comes DOORBELLS AT DUSK, an anthology of Halloween themed tales from an amazing collection of authors. The 14 tales within lead us down a darkened street, well aware of the monsters, supernatural and mortal, that wait just out of sight in the shadows.

Evans Light has pulled together a great collection of stories. There is not a disappointing one in the mix, and no two tales are alike.

Lets take a look at whats inside........

A PLAGUE OF MONSTERS by Charles Gramlich

Gus wonders why no one else sees the monsters coming to his door. He must protect himself no matter what.

THE RYE-MOTHER by Curtis M. Lawson

David has always felt like he doesn't belong. This Halloween night he will finally search out his true family.

THE DAY OF THE DEAD by Amber Fallon

A Day of The Dead party at the local bar will turn into an event that some patrons will never forget.

RUSTY HUSK by Evans Light

Rusty always has the best scarecrows on his porch at Halloween, and this year's is the best yet.

ADAM'S BED by Josh Malerman

Ronnie loves his 5 year old son Adam, and his birthday is on Halloween. It all makes for an epic party. But why does Ronnie feel dread when he looks at Adam's bedroom, and what does a mysterious party crasher have to do with it.

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES by Jason Parent

A group of thieves on a Halloween crime spree have just picked the wrong house to hit.

VIGIL by Chad Lutzke

The residents of a quiet block gather to watch a horrible scene unfold in their own backyard.

MR. IMPOSSIBLE by Gregor Zane

Two friends journey to a block party hosted by an old school pal know as Mr. Impossible. Hoping for  a night of booze and drugs, they are about to learn that some side-effects may occur.

BETWEEN by Ian Welke

Halloween night in Los Angeles, and spirits walk the streets. Yolanda is in search of two special spirits to give her an answer she longs for.

THE FRIENDLY MAN by Thomas Vaughn

The house at the end of the street always has the best decorations every year. But this year the home owner has a special surprise for the trick-or-treaters.

MANY CARVINGS by Sean Eads & Joshua Viola

A sickness has come to Alester's village. But something much darker has come with it.

TRICK 'EM ALL by Adam Light

Travis hates his parents. He is stuck at home handing out candy when he would rather be out. But tonight he has made a new friend, and things are about to spiral out of control.

OFFERINGS by Joanna Koch

Blaine loves her new home and neighborhood. Everything about it makes her happy, except for the strange woman who wanders the street pushing a stroller, with three children in tow. 

MASKS by Lisa Lepovetsky

Halloween night. Party guests hide behind the animosity of a mask. But some guests cannot get into the Halloween mood. Something else is coming from the darkness with other ideas for the night.

 So turn on your porch light, grab your bucket of candy and prepare yourself for DOORBELLS AT DUSK.

You can purchase DOORBELLS AT DUSK  from AMAZON.

To learn more about CORPUS PRESS and their other great books make sure to visit HERE.

LOW by Mike Duke

LOW by Mike Duke

Published September 22 2017

Published by Stitched Smile Publications

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(from book description)

Officer Mark Adams is fed up with God, his wife and the legal constraints of his job. He longs for a life he can enjoy and to see true justice meted out.

Chad Bigleby is a lawyer thrown into a deadly moral quagmire, forced to decide whether he will abide by man’s laws or make his own.

Each man is being driven to the edge of his limits.

Both men are on a collision course.

All because something wicked has arrived in Pleasant Grove, something ancient and obsessed with vengeance, eager to punish the souls of men for their sins.

How LOW will they go to get what they desire most? And what will it cost them in the end?

Hell only knows…

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Sometimes you pick up a book and start reading, and that book just clicks with you. That is exactly what happened when I started reading LOW by Mike Duke. The story just drags you in and never lets go until the last page.

The author has created a very complex and intriguing story, populating it with a cast of some of the most believable characters put on paper. The two main characters, Mark Adams and Chad Bigleby are two sides of a coin. Mark is an honorable man who wants to uphold the law, live a happy life with his wife and be content. Chad is in it just for the money and self indulgence. He cheats, steals and does whatever he needs to get ahead in life. Little do they know that a new stranger in town will bring both their lives crashing down and lead them both into a confrontation for their very souls.

LOW is a deep novel. This is not just a horror novel with a big baddie, although Mister Phailees is a terrifying figure. This is a story that pulls us through many philosophical situations. What makes a one man evil and what makes one man good? Can a sin be forgiven in man's and God's eye? And does God still watch over someone if they themselves have lost faith?

There are so may questions asked through the course of the story and the author handles each one in stride, not afraid to run his characters through the ringer and see what comes out the other side. He gives us a very memorable villain in Mister Phailees, a man (or is he) on a mission. But is he really the villain of the story? At times you will root for him. He is doing what he has done for a long time, and in the end he still has his limits and answers to a higher power. No, the real monster in this story is man. Only man can sin and only man can strive for redemption.

The world in this story is in constant flux. One moment it is the real world, next it is a dream state, and another we are in a vision of hell that would put Dante on edge.

I do have to give extra praise to Mike Duke for his portrayal of his main character, who is a police officer. If you read Mike's bio you will see that he was a police officer for 12 years. This knowledge comes into play throughout the book. This is one of the most spot on use of police procedure and the showing of how police interact with each other, dispatch and the public. It makes the story, and the characters that much more believable. It is so nice to see someone get their police characters right, and not try to base them off of what they have seen on TV.

This is a thought provoking, action-packed, scary story that you will be thinking about long after you finish it.

You can purchase LOW on AMAZON.

To learn more about Mike Duke and his other works visit his Author's Page HERE.

(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest review)

OUR LADY OF THE INFERNO by Preston Fassel

OUR LADY OF THE INFERNO by Preston Fassel

Publish date September 11th 2018

Published by Cinestate (Fangoria Presents)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(from the book description)

Spring, 1983. Sally Ride is about to go into space. Flashdance is a cultural phenomenon. And in Times Square, two very deadly women are on a collision course with destiny-- and each other.

At twenty-one, Ginny Kurva is already legendary on 42nd Street. To the pimp for whom she works, she's the perfect weapon-- a martial artist capable of taking down men twice her size. To the girls in her stable, she's mother, teacher, and protector. To the little sister she cares for, she's a hero. Yet Ginny's bravado and icy confidence hide a mind at the breaking point, her sanity slowly slipping away as both her addictions and the sins of her past catch up with her...

At thirty-seven, Nicolette Aster is the most respected woman at the Staten Island Landfill. Quiet and competent, she's admired by the secretaries and trusted by her supervisors. Yet those around her have no idea how Nicolette spends her nights-- when the hateful madness she keeps repressed by day finally emerges, and she turns the dump into a hunting ground to engage in a nightmarish blood sport...

In the Spring of 1983, neither Ginny nor Nicolette knows the other exists. By the time Summer rolls around, one of them will be dead.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It would seem there is a lot of pressure riding on Preston Fassel's new book OUR LADY OF THE INFERNO. Not only is it his first novel, but it is also the first book release from the new Fangoria Magazine under their Fangoria Presents banner.

He need not worry though. Preston has delivered an amazing detailed story, filled with characters that jump off the page.

Yes, the story does drag at some points. There are some long stretches of nothing happening and an abundance of run-on areas, but the core of the story is good. Don't stop reading if you hit that wall, it will pick up. The characters are well fleshed out and are very believable, especially in the time period of 1983. These are two strong female lead characters. Ginny and Nicolette are both predators, just at different ends of the spectrum. Ginny will be fierce to protect her family and Nicolette will be savage in pursuit of her beliefs.

1980's New York is brought to life in all its bright lights, dark shadows and grime. The famous 42nd street, The Deuce, is a place of fantasy, desire, lust, greed and for some, death. This is where Preston shines, in creating, or in this case, recreating this point in time and populating it with a host of believable characters.  I especially liked the character of Ginny. She is not a hero by any means. In fact she does some down-right horrible things through the course of the story. But what she does is for self preservation and to care for her sister. She is an empowered woman who knows what she wants and how she will get it.

There is no supernatural undying slasher to be seen in this story, no ghosts or zombies. The monsters in this story are people. Nicolette in her quest for sport, blood and savagery. The Colonel with his need for utter control and wealth. And Ginny, savage in her own right, still a monster in some eyes, but of the three she shows compassion for others besides herself. Everything here is based in the real world. People suffer. Whether hooked on drugs, forced into prostitution or hunted by a mad-woman, they are all fighting just to survive day by day.

I would say that I was expecting more of a horror feel to the book, being that it is the first release from Fangoria Presents. To me it reads as a great thriller, not a horror story. There is violence and blood, especially as you near the climax of the story. In the end it all comes down to the reader him or herself. Some will look at it as horror, others will not. But it is a story that you do not want to miss.

You can pre-order OUR LADY OF THE INFERNO on AMAZON.

You can learn more about PRESTON FASSEL by visiting his page on FACEBOOK.

THE WRITHING SKIES by Betty Rocksteady

THE WRITHING SKIES by Betty Rocksteady

Publish date September 25th 2018

Published by Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(from the book description)

The sky is hungry!

 Glowing lights and figures in tattered robes force Sarah from her apartment. Outside, phosphorescent creatures infiltrate her every orifice. They want to know everything, especially the things she would rather forget.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Something happened while reading THE WRITING SKIES. I sat down with the intent of reading a few chapters before bed, but then suddenly it was 3am and I was on the last page. Where had the time gone, and why did I have this thought rolling around in my head, "What the hell did I just read?"

Now I mean that in the most positive of ways. It's raw, it's scary, it's very trippy and very, very gooey.

This is the first story I have read by author Betty Rocksteady and it makes me ask, "Where have you been all my life!". From the first page, the story is off and running. There is no build up, no fluff pages of intros and backgrounds, we start right into the action. The paranoid, manic thoughts of the main character Sarah. She is already on edge, something is happening that she cannot explain, everything is just wrong. The world around her has changed, mysterious figures surround her every move. And the sky... just don't look at the sky. What could be happening, and how can it tie in with her boyfriend Derek, and an event best left unsaid.

The tension, anxiety and overall unease increase  tenfold as the story progresses. Three characters traverse this strange world, each fully believable. No special powers, no feeling that they will save the day. All are equally lost in both the world and their own minds and slowly changing bodies. This is a horror story, but there are no jump scares here, no giant monsters chasing our heroine around. This is a story built on dread, and it is ever building. You feel on edge with every page turn. What Betty does give us is plenty of body horror. Parts not meant for the squeamish. There is blood, there is ooze and some things that are just downright hard to explain.

And to top everything off, Betty Rocksteady has included 20 original black and white illustrations throughout the book.

THE WRITHING SKIES has everything a horror reader wants. Unparalleled atmosphere, constantly building dread and unease, believable characters and an ending that will kick you in the teeth.

You can pre-order the book HERE.

To learn more about Betty Rocksteady please visit her website HERE.

And to learn about more titles available from the publisher, visit their website,
Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing.


(I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review)

Interview with JUSTIN M. WOODWARD

Interview with JUSTIN M. WOODWARD

Today I am joined by Justin M Woodward, author of The Variant, Candy and Tamer Animals. Justin, thank you for making some time in your schedule for this interview.

-- Thanks for having me, Jim!

You have released 3 books in the last 2 years, 2 of them within a month of each other just this summer. What kind of writing routine do you try to keep to?

-- I wish I had a writing routine to speak of! I'm certainly not THAT fast of a writer. I try to write when I have spare time. I work an average of 45 hours a week, plus I've got the two kids (my four year old is surgically attached to me when I'm home) so a lot of nights for an hour or so before bed I'm left asking myself 'Do I write, or do I read?' I will say this, though, in regards to releasing two books so close together. TAMER ANIMALS was actually finished in the fall of 2017. Candy was written directly afterwards as a weekly serial and then published around the same time.

Did you have any major inspirations that helped you get into writing?

-- When I was a kid I used to beg my babysitter to help me write a novel. I told her 'I'll tell you what to say, and you'll write it down.' Unfortunately, we decided to part ways due to creative differences. When I got older (mid-twenties) a buddy of mine, Jim Goffio, wrote and self-published a novel called HOUSE OF THE HOLY which I enjoyed very much. We talked about the process and I decided I would give it a go. A year later, THE VARIANT was released.

All three of your books have been very different in theme and structure. Which one did you enjoy working on the most?

-- Definitely CANDY. Though it was tedious trying to release a chapter every Saturday (some weeks I was writing the installment an hour before I released it) I loved that much-needed kick in the ass that book provided to get me working. Plus, CANDY is just so much fun.

Candy was unique in that it was told with the voice and perspective of a

teenage girl. Did this create any writing challenges for you?

-- The short answer—no. I just really didn't feel like I had to go very far out of my way to make CANDY seem real and believable. It just came naturally to me, I guess. It might also help that aside from sex, CANDY is basically me, haha. I'm very much a cynical smartass.

Your latest novel, Tamer Animals is a coming of age/backwoods horror. It also introduced us to The Goat Man. Many fans of the book have asked, will we see the Goat Man again?

-- I'll have to talk it over with him.

There are many authors who say they do not read reviews of their books. Do you read the reviews of your works and do you find that they help or hinder you in your continued writing?

-- Those many authors are flat out lying. Every author reads reviews. As far as whether they help or hinder, it all depends on the type of review. If a reviewer gives specific, legitimate reasons why they did (or didn't) like a book, that can be helpful. But, like most art, writing is subjective. Unless a reviewer is mad about some sort of error they found in a book (haven't had this be the case, just using as an example) then I really don't bother myself too much with what they thought. I would say also that positive reviews help a writer to determine which path to take with their next book (or not) if they are a writer who cares about that sort of thing (I'm not). I told you I was a cynical smartass!

Your are very active on social media, posting every day on your Facebook Fan Page (Justin M. Woodward Fan Club). Do you find that social media is important for authors today?

-- Unless your book magically makes its way on to the New York Times Bestseller list, social media is crucial to all authors these days. We can't all be Stephen King, unfortunately. I'm very thankful for the fans (and friends) I've made on social media. I would take it a step further, however, and warn other authors that it works both ways. If you're an asshole on the internet, I'm not going to read your book. It's a double-edged sword. I try to be as real and cool as I can with people. But I've found that social media can also help steer me AWAY from certain people's work.

I know that you are friends with fellow author J.Z. Foster. You have had some entertaining exchanges on social media. So here is your chance, what do you really think of J.Z. ?

-- Horrible person, decent writer. (I'm just kidding of course, he's a great writer.)

Before you go I do have to ask if you have any new projects in the works that you might be able to give us a hint about?

-- Sure, why not. I've just finished a round of short stories that were submitted to various places and I find myself staring at some (nearly) blank slates wondering what's next. Also, I was busy working on the release of the audio books for THE VARIANT, CANDY, and TAMER ANIMALS. I've started and stopped many things that I will eventually pick up later. For right now, I'm working on a novel that has been bouncing around my head for years, begging to be written which I haven't mentioned anywhere else yet. It will be part psychological thriller, part forbidden love story (I know, shock!) and as always, it will be dark. Its title is: WATER THE FLOWERS.

Justin, thank again for your time, it has been great talking to you. I look forward to reading more of your works in the future.

-- Thanks, Jim, any time!

Justin also asked me announce that starting today the TAMER ANIMALS e-book is now on sale for only .99 for the next five days. Now is your chance to pick up this truly frightening book at an amazing price.

I will also be giving away 3 e-book copies of TAMER ANIMALS. To enter to win one just visit
 One-Legged Reviews on Facebook and post a comment on the Giveaway post. Winners will be picked at random on Monday.

And for even more Justin Woodward fun, tomorrow Justin and fellow author Jay Sigler (TRAIN THOUGHTS) will be on Spilling Ink Live from 7pm to 8pm CDT. You can visit the event page HERE.

All of Justin's book are available now in print, e-book and audio book on AMAZON.

THE VARIANT          CANDY         TAMER ANIMALS


You can read my past reviews of CANDY and TAMER ANIMALS .....HERE and HERE.

12 GAUGE: SONGS FROM A STREET SWEEPER by Dustin LaValley

12 GAUGE: SONGS FROM A STREET SWEEPER by Dustin LaValley

Published July 1st 2018

Published by Sinister Grin Press

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(from the book description)

(12 Gauge) Songs from A Street Sweeper includes three white-knuckled novellas.

Spinner
A prison escapee leads law enforcement on a chase through the Adirondack Mountains, where they encounter a reclusive elderly man with a dark secret.

H/armed
An ultra-violent satirical commentary on societal norms, cliques, and obedience.

The Deceived
A criminal pair invade the home of the wrong man on the wrong day.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12 GAUGE: SONGS FROM A STREET SWEEPER is a collection of 3 novella length stories that all have one thing in common, lots and lots of blood.

Dustin LaValley gives us stories that feel real, that could happen in the real world. That is what I think is the scariest part of all the tales. He shows us that we humans are the most violent creatures around. 

The first novella, Spinner is my favorite of the bunch. It has a great noir crime thriller feel to it with a very dark twist. An escaped killer and his girlfriend are loose in the Adirondack Mountains and on the run from the police. But they will soon learn that they are not the scariest monsters loose in these woods. This is your classic cops in pursuit of the escapee story. Like all the stories in this collection, Dustin does not shy away from the blood and gore. The pursuit takes them through the mountains to a shocking and unexpected conclusion. These are well built characters, just enough info is given to flesh them out and make them believable. The story never lulls and the little connections made between characters is great.

The second novella, H/armed was my least favorite of the three. This is an all-out gore fest in the fashion of Battle Royale or The Belko Experiment. People are trapped in a department store and meant to fight to the death, all under the watchful eye of The Director. The participants are divided into teams, The Sore Thumbs (gamers), Black Lights (stoners), Rodeos (cowboys), Cocoa Beans (hipsters) and so on. There are a lot of characters introduced in this short story, and no where near enough time to flesh any of them out. Another thing I did not care for is the responses the author has given some of the characters. He takes the stoner/gamer/hipster arch types to the very extreme. To the point that a hipster in the moment of being chased by a killer has time to critique a bad shirt, or the gamers only defense being karate moves they learn from Street Fighter. The premise of the story plays out good, but there needed to be less characters running around and maybe less tongue-in-cheek portrayals of some of the groups. I do have to say that this story does have one hell of a soundtrack.

The last novella, The Deceived is a great little character driven thriller. Only three people interact throughout the whole story. A young couple pays a visit to a unsuspecting man. Their intentions are not good from the start; they have just entered a home, and a situation way out of their understanding.
We do not get much background into these characters, but that is OK. This is an "in the moment" story. We don't need to know their past, just what is happening now. And like the stories that come before it, there is violence, there is blood and there is terror. Three people, one claustrophobic house and no way out, make a very thrilling and fast-paced story.

Overall this is a great collection that will appeal to many readers. Dustin weaves some excellent stories that span the gap between noir thriller and outright horror.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review)


You can purchase 12 GAUGE: SONGS FROM A STREET SWEEPER on AMAZON.

To see more books published by Sinister Grin Press, make sure to visit their WEBSITE.