Bedbugs

By Ben H. Winters
Quirk Books, 256 pages, $14.95

“Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite!”

“Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite!” This little rhyme is often used to tuck children in at bedtime. But what would you say if your house was filled with creepy crawlers? You would defiantly not sleep tight. Ben H. Winters challenges his characters with an infestation in his book Bedbugs. The Wendt family has found a perfect apartment with an unbeatable rent. Is it too good to be true? Susan’s days are relatively calm, but nights leave her covered with bites and welts. However, her husband Alex and baby daughter Emma haven’t been touched. What could explain this paradox? Winters is familiar with writing about creatures. Fans will recall a New York Times best seller Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters that was full of man-eating beasts from below the waves. Now creepy bedbugs occupy his story. Winters does superb job writing from the perspective of a woman. He captures the paranoia and madness Susan experiences as the story develops. Throughout the book he references Rosemary’s Baby. Susan, like Ira Levin’s Rosemary, senses that something is not quite right with her perfect life. Skillfully, like Levin, Winters slowly increases the tension and the horror is putting readers on the edge of their seats. Once you start this book, you’ll want to finish it quickly…certainly before bedtime.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Franklin

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Them or Us

By David Moody
Thomas Dunne Books, $24.99, 336 pages

In Them or Us, David Moody’s final book in his Hater trilogy is filled with violence and moment to moment survival. The human condition is seen at its extreme worst. Killing, the consolidation of limited resources and paranoia are the principles of the day. At one point, the main character, Danny McCoyne, sums up the central theme of the book by saying, “You have to be ruthless if you want to survive. There’s no room for compassion here.” Despite that claim, Danny McCoyne continually finds himself confronted with moments where he decides that compassion is more important than self-interest. He could have revealed the location of the Unchanged bunker to Hinchcliffe but doesn’t, he could have left the two Unchanged children to their deaths but rescues them instead, or he could have joined Hinchcliffe at the end and killed the last remaining Unchanged but decides to be a barrier to Hichcliffe’s unrelenting drive to kill.

In a story with little hope, it manages to draw in a positive vein at just the right moments. On the last page, this hope is exemplified with a rhetorical question, “Are we ever truly free of our self-destructive nature?”

Reviewed by Jon Sanetel

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The Magdalena Curse

By Francis Cottam
Thomas Dunne Books, $25.99, 324 pages

Mark and Adam Hunter have the perfect father-son relationship. However, a malevolent sorceress is bent on destroying them both. Mark is a devoted father in mourning. He has recently lost his wife and daughter in an “accident,” and his ten-year-old son is his only treasure. Unfortunately, Adam is tormented by prophecies and possessed by spirits. Adam’s psychologist believes these behaviors are due to bullying or violent video games, but Mark has a hunch that his son’s torment is connected to a curse he incurred years before Adam was even born. Mark devotes his life to curing Adam. When his only son goes missing, will he fall apart at the seams, or will he find the strength to conquer the curse?

“He owed Adam the life he had not lived. He would not die, not easily. He would not forsake his boy”.

While F.G. Cottam’s new book is suspenseful, it lacks a solid plot. Cottam makes it clear that his antagonist seeks to “put her tilt upon the world,” but this vague threat is never fully illuminated for the reader. If you enjoyed The House of Lost Souls and Dark Echo, if you like thrills and spills and can be spared an actual plot, Cottam’s third book may be a good fit for you.

Emily Davis

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The Best of Tomes of the Dead: Vol 2

By Simon Bestwick, Gary McMahon, Jasper Bark
Abaddon Books, $12.99, 756 pages

The Tomes of the Dead series is a group of anthologies featuring zombies. The second volume brings readers three stand-alone books filled with fantastic gut-wrenching gore. Each has their own explanations for the creation of zombies. In Simon Bestwick’s book Tide of Souls, flash-flood waters are rising, as well as the undead. In a world filled with death, three broken people must come together to find hope and a chance for survival. Escaped sex slave Katja, burned-out soldier McTarn, and crippled biologist Styles are dynamic characters that breathe life into a story of the undead. Gary McMahon’s Hungry Hearts, the weakest of the three selection, is a love story set amidst the chaos of an outbreak. Policeman Rick Nutman must battle his way through the hordes of walking dead to get to his wife Sally. Unbeknownst to him, serial killer Daryl has been stalking Sally and has the goal of becoming the first serial killer in history to kill the same woman twice. Way of the Barefoot Zombie, by Jasper Bark, explores the inner zombies in us all. Sign up for a mysterious course on a secret island and set the undead side of you free.

Elizabeth Franklin

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Tales of Hot Rod Horror

Anthology

Cackling Imp Press, $18.00, 118 pages

Looking at the cover and reading the title of the book gave me hope that Tales of Hot Rod Horror has potential. I pictured a fun, campy, unique anthology of short graphic stories, but after reading all fifteen “tales of terror,” my hope had fizzled. In his introduction, editor Devon Deveraux (based in Portland) states that readers will see a lot of Stephen King’s influence on the genre – and he is not exaggerating. King’s “Christine” is the ultimate possessed car story. Nearly every story in the collection seemed like an adapted King story. It is said that imitation is the best form of flattery, but when the person you are imitating is so well known and talented, your work ends up looking like a weak copy. “The Curse of The Little Bastard” has the most interesting plot. It tells the “real” story of what happened to James Dean’s cursed silver gray Porsche 550 Spyder (in which Dean died in an accident).

If you are looking to be inspired by the book’s graphic elements, most of the artists are successful in their styles and designs. Bottom line: a majority of the stories have been done before, but the graphic art is new.

Kathryn Franklin

The Haunting of Twentieth-Century America

William J. Birnes and Joel Martin

Tor / Forge, $15.99, 464 pages

William J. Birnes and Joel Martin’s new book delves into slices of history with touches of the paranormal. One slightly irksome quality for readers new to this writing pair is the frequent reference to the authors’ previous works in various chapters. Each chapter contains its own historical interest and paranormal intrigue. One very fascinating chapter in particular would have to be New Orleans. It discusses at some length, the exploits of Voodoo queen, Marie Laveau and Madame LaLaurie. She was a “free woman of color” (c. 1794-1881), who was free to practice Voodoo due to the fear she induced in authorities. In one recounting there was a young man that was accused of raping a young woman and the evidence was convincing. The young man’s father hired Marie Laveau for her Voodoo services. The Voodoo queen managed to obtain the young man’s acquittal, after which he changed his ways and wished to marry the young woman. The woman rejected his proposal and so the young man hired the Voodoo queen to create a love potion. Marie Laveau concocted her magic and the two fell in love.

Madame LaLaurie was a wealthy slave owner who enjoyed the comforts being served in every regard.  However, her true desire was to torture and murder her slaves. In one famous incident, a young slave girl that was the Madame’s personal servant, accidently snagged the Madame’s hair while brushing it. Madame LaLaurie chased and flogged the child until she jumped from the roof to her death. Her ghost and the ghosts of all the other dead slaves could be seen and heard from the attic of Madame LaLaurie’s French Quarter mansion for many years thereafter. When workman came to replace the floorboards in the attic many years later, they uncovered the remains of seventy-five slaves.  They were victims of torture and a deadly fire which claimed their lives. This is one of the less-than-supernatural explanations for something unimaginable.

There is far more to this book which, cannot be covered in this brief review. If you have an interest in reading tales of history and the paranormal, then this is the book you’ll continue to return to again and again.

Jon Sanetel

Z: Zombie Stories

Edited by J.M. Lassen

Night Shade Books, $12.99, 416 pages

When the apocalypse comes, it isn’t just adults who need to know how to combat zombies. Young adults need to know what to expect as well. J.M. Lassen, editor of Z: Zombie Stories, has assembled a collection of ten Y.A. coming-of-age stories set in a world overrun by the living dead. In “Family Business” by Jonathon Mayberry, young Benny learns the family trade of dealing with the undead. Some jobs you don’t just do for the money. Catherynne Valenta’s “The Days of Flaming Motorcycles” features a girl dealing with her abusive father who has become a zombie. In “The Barrow Maid” by Christine Morgan, a Viking maiden (and newlywed) is trapped underground when, as per tradition, she is buried with her husband but unexpectedly arises to seek revenge. In this anthology the authors contemplate what it might be like to grow up in a time when the future of humanity is unknown. Several stories deal with mature themes – a terrorist attack, suicide attempt, rape, murder, prostitution, and abuse. Only one story is original and it happens to be the best – “DeepWater Miracle.” Be careful not to laugh too loud while reading because it is a sign you’ve become a zombie!

Kathryn Franklin

Brand New Cherry Flavor

by Todd Grimson

Schaffner Press, $14.95, 356 pages

Lisa Nova is a 26-year-old film director trying to make it in Hollywood. Getting turned down for another job, despite her personal relationship with the producer, Lisa decides to seek revenge on him and his family. For this, she turns to Boro, a strange and dangerous man, who agrees to deliver Lisa’s revenge. This starts a series of events that make things better for Lisa but worse for everyone who crosses her. Soon she finds that she, too, can make things happen with just her will.

Brand New Cherry Flavor should’ve been a fascinating book. And parts of it are – particularly the unraveling mystery of Boro, Lisa’s discovery of her power and the increasingly deadly and creepy events that unfold. However, the character of Lisa makes this a hard book to get through. She has a remarkable talent for denial through most of the book, takes no responsibility for her actions, has no real connection to her own life and has no real character growth in the story. Frankly, it is hard to care about what happens to her. The writing style is intriguing and gritty but mostly this book feels like a missed opportunity for something great.

Barbara Cothern

The Living Dead 2

Edited by John Joseph Adams

Night Shade Books, $15.99, 504 pages

Zombie stories never seem to get old. As fantasy, sci-fi, and horror writers always seem to have new explanations for reanimation. These tales can be found across all media (TV, movies, video games, books, comics, and more). Fans of the genre will enjoy The Living Dead 2, an anthology packed with 44 short stories. Only 19 are reprinted from other sources. Editor John Joseph Adams provides an insightful introduction and commentary before each entry. Adams’ goal is to showcase the diverse range of what zombie fiction is capable of and he is quite successful.

Opening the collection is the first piece of published prose fiction by Robert Kirkman, creator of the critically acclaimed, bestselling graphic novels (and now TV series) The Walking Dead. He focuses on a love story between two characters caught in a post-apocalyptic world. Is love and hope the key to survival? Paula R. Stiles’ unique story serves as an AIDS-in-Africa metaphor tale. Author Adam-Troy Castro chillingly hypothesizes what kind of an afterlife awaits zombies. For readers new to the genre, the book serves as a great introduction to the best of zombie fiction. Find a favorite author and check out what else they’ve written.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Franklin

Risen from the Grave: Varney the Vampyre: Part 1: The Feast of Blood

by Leslie Ormandy

Scion Press, $14.95, 375 pages

Oh vampires, ye of rich legacy so lucratively corrupted by Hollywood, do you ever wish you could just be yourselves again, that you could go back in time, before you were the fodder of bad young adult novels? If you answer, yes, vampires, look no further than Leslie Ormandy’s modernization of James Malcom Rymer’s Victorian-era serial, Varney the Vampyre: The Feast of Blood. The book tells the tale of the Bannerworth family, driven to financial ruin and struggling to decide how to handle their future and finances. The Bannerworth children are all of an honorable bent and their lives seem to be materializing rather well—that is, until beautiful and vibrant Flora Bannerworth is visited in her bedchamber one evening by the most fearsome of creatures: a vampire! And, to make matters worse, a vampire who seems quite likely to be a relative from a few generations ago. And who really, really wants to own the Bannerworths’ estate. What ensues is a story that is by turns suspenseful and silly. It is never really surprising, but is a fun historical novel set very firmly in Victorian-era morality and behaviors.

While, having not read the original it is difficult to tell how far Ormandy’s version strays syntactically from Rymer’s original Victorian serial,  The Feast of Blood does not seem to stray much from the style and tone of Victorian writing. Ormandy has stated that her goal in authoring this version of Varney was to modernize the story and make it accessible to an audience to whom it had basically been lost, due to antiquated writing style. However, it is somewhat difficult to view this version of the story as particularly modern, as it still contains many traits owed to its original serialized nature.

In writing the original Varney the Vampyre, author Rymer would have been paid by the word. Additionally, having been written for mass publication, the story lacks some of the literary flair that it could have otherwise had. Ormandy’s modernization has done little to remedy this situation; dialogue is overabundant, too telling, and at times awkward, and the story would have benefitted from having this cleaned up some. That said, the story, which is a bit of a twist on our modern-day take on vampires, is engaging and a fun read. It isn’t perfect, and it would have been nice to see more changes made that improved the consistency of the story (after all, Ormandy’s name, not Rymer’s, is on the front cover of the book), but the trials and tribulations of the Bannerworth clan provide a fun read. Dated it may be, but it is a fun, light-hearted romp through the dangerous terrain of vampirism. There’s no need to be afraid…but make sure your neck is covered.

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