Hallett stands out as a star in storytelling. In The Examiner, the story unfolds as a collection of Doodle messages, WhatsApp, etc. the story involves a group project (horror unto itself), and a clash of artists…or a chaotic scheme of mixed-up-meddling madness (with mystery). Hallett must be read to be appreciated. Awarded with distinction.

What makes family? Blood, bond, or disturbance in generational trauma? This story by the fantastic Ania Ahlborn contains elements of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, southern gothic, and distorted minds. But it‘s not a gore-fest. Michael internally struggles against his ‘family‘; his ‘brother‘ Reb focuses on twisted vengeance. I thought this was an excellent book. It asks: how much blood it takes to break a ‘family‘? A person? A mind?

Four brothers, 3 of whom are conjoined at the head. The 4th, our narrator, is Thomas: the apathetic son in gentry of a deep southern town of Kingdom Come. With the bayou granny witches, the debauchery of Thomas and the town, and more than one family secret. Truly creative, within the genre of the southern gothic tradition. I enjoyed it. It‘s quick and strangely human. The normal is abnormal. Cast of characters well developed, and coherent plot.

Ghosts of gulag prisoners. The cruel Siberian winter. Drawn to this unknown: an American reality television director and British cameraman. As the story progresses, locals are introduced only to be reduced. The gulag ghosts are set dressing; forces of old worship provide actions. Not sure how faithful the story is to the folklore tradition (a minus). The characters are secondary. Not what I expected, but a good story. Intense, and a quick read.

Hallett has cornerened the market in the non traditional expository narrative. In the Twyford Code, the reader becomes interested (and in my experience, rather found) of the protagonist, as he muddles his way through an ‘investigation‘ as we read transcripts from recordings made. A full cast of characters…or, maybe…a very clever puzzle for the reader? Brilliant and beautiful.

Dr. No bty Percival Everett is like The Phantom Tollbooth for adults. By that, I mean the way words and assignments of meaning are devices in plot, character, and narrative development. At first I thought this book was too smart for me, but, as it turned out, maybe I gave something of a try for nothing. And nothing, as it seems, is quite more important than the excellence of Everett‘s storytelling.

Takes a slow start until building momentum in this Texas blood burn. Isolated but crowded, the vampiric trope is just a small part, a compulsive killer now killing as compelled. A woman and son who are trapped in his mind as prey or pardoned. A Texas Ranger and an older evil. Davidson is a talent, and this book is a masterpiece of the southern gothic tradition.

Wow. This is a truly gifted writer, some heavy topics, and unique style. Dealing with race, gender, spiritual and other abuse - it is effortless in its disjointed prose. A family, a house that anchors trauma. The neighborhood, the forces of external traumas. A family and a weaving of personas. Beautiful only in a way storytellers can make ugly into captivating.Trigger warnings for abuse in novel.

Huge fan of Pargins‘ work and ability to dive into the zeitgeist (John, Daveand Amy series as monsters in mainstream; Zoey Ashe as money in clueless chaos). In this book, he attempts to illustrate the what the hell is going on(line), but to the point of boredom from the reader. I did like the way he warps up the story. I like and get his style (loved Cracked.com!). I think it‘s good, worth a read. Some cringe, but we‘re generation cringe.

Calling up bravery is thematic in Smothermoss. There a murderer on the loose, half sisters at polar opposites, and the 1980s. All in the Appalachia, a wild place with the old magic of the mountain. In the book, bravery is in Angie (untamable; lives Red Dawn) and Shelia (coming to terms with her sexuality). Well written, character driven (even nature is a character), magic manifestations. In Smothermoss, bravery is self reflection and action.

A lush And deeply idiosyncratic book, State of Paradise is a post-Florida pandemic world, but feels so intimate that you can be in this quirky and mournful book. A ghost(writer), pet ghosts, cats, VR meditations (portals?), and family. The observational diary prose is what sold me; I was already hooked on what bizarre Florida story this would be…but bizarre is a beautiful way. A must read!

The Crow Girl both mesmerized and disturbed me. Trigger warnings for almost all content. We are used to the darkness of most Scandinavian novels. The Crow Girl makes not attempt to drown out true monsters. It artfully illustrates broken memories, fragments of self shattered by trauma. I could not put it down. The authors (two under one name) wrote of horrors and the horrid. I recommend this book, but with caution and care.

Michael McDowell is on my list of must read southern gothic authors! The Elementals sets a scene of three homes with two families…but the third can be understood as the histories of tragic imprints. Between the isolated Alabama gulf coast and the more populated area of Alabama, we see our characters cross over in tradition and transition. We are drawn in by the cast and place. Like S. King, the slow simmer to bigger danger of narrative entered.

I bought this book years ago to read at the airport. Sadly, I lost the copy, and the hope is ever find such a unique book ever again. Yet, with luck, I got to reread it! Cantero is a genius. Characters encounter the traditional haunted house inherited. Including visions and those who locate the original instances. Codexes and Help (a good doggo). An epistolary novel to reread for details. Unfolds like the secrets of what is beyond.

Love Chuck Wendig! The journey in this book is of a family, a demonic presence, multiple timelines, and sentient sculptures. Wendig has taken a genre-horror or suspense, whatever you like-subtracting mistrust and adding the element of cohesion in the face of chaos. The reader recognizes the references without feeling bombarded, and the storytelling gives the birds eye (🦉👁️❓) view of the motivations of each character. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It‘s not for everyone. The choice of storytelling. The character voice or the non-linear as linear. It‘s the issues faced by teens, but the distractions in this book as asides made it hard for me to understand…anything. Some may like it. I just didn‘t vibe with it. Gave up 3/4 way through.

Reddit is a great place to read some original stuff…and where Jack Townsend started off with his stories about a gas station, demons in the the lovecraftian tradition, Jerry, and what you would expect from the 24/7 service station in the middle of nowhere. I would say it‘s like Jason Parkinson‘s John, Dave, and Amy books meets an off brand Chevron insomniac clerk. And Jerry. Read about it: https://tinyurl.com/yaeu6ev4

Rarely do I grab a book to read over and over. The exception is the fantastical-witty-inventive-disquieting #TheLibraryatMountChar. It‘s not quite horror, more surreal. Characters, motivations, and little details further plot and enjoyment. 100% recommend. Absolute treasure of a novel. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 📖 to read.

Read once, listened to on Hoopla twice. Look, I never really got into the whole HPL science beyond Wikipedia-ing the plots and other elements. But the reimagined scenario within Carter & Lovecraft is beyond fun. The dialogue (internal and external) acts as ‘reality‘, with characters as individuals. It‘s sardonic and easy to put together (as much as one can with cosmic horror and rare book sellers)-even if you associate HPL with cringe.