The nitty-gritty: A young boy navigates the unexpected return of his dead father in this short, sharp horror story. Mapping the Interior was originally published in 2017 by Tordotcom, and this year it’s being rereleased in a beautiful new package by Tor Nightfire. I actually own the original edition, but for whatever reason I never […]
The nitty-gritty: A well written story with plenty of unsettling and scary moments, The Return is an excellent and entertaining debut. I’m catching up with Rachel Harrison’s backlist, and I decided to try her debut horror story. The Return is super creepy and weird, and while it’s not my favorite of her books, I had […]
The nitty-gritty: Sparkling writing, a fascinating setting and time period, and a lovely, slow burn romance make Grimm Curiosities a must read paranormal mystery. Grimm Curiosities is the perfect cozy fantasy/mystery to curl up with on a cold winter’s night. I always enjoy Sharon’s books, and her latest is an engaging historical fantasy with just […]
The nitty-gritty: A twisty, bloody tale, Rest Stop is a delightfully gruesome surprise. Rest Stop is a short and extremely twisted novella, and it has firmly cemented Nat Cassidy as a must read author for me. This is a wild, bloody adventure—or should I say “misadventure”—involving an ill-fated convenience store stop, a deranged killer, and […]
The nitty-gritty: Libby Cudmore’s carefully plotted PI story mixes interpersonal drama, music and the emotional pitfalls of addiction. “Junkies will always break your heart.” I have to admit it was the cover of Negative Girl that first caught my attention, and after reading it, I think it perfectly fits this murder mystery that centers around […]
The nitty-gritty: A surreal take on the asylum trope, Crypt of the Moon Spider is an unsettling, shudder-worthy start to a new series. This must be my “week of weird,” because I have a review for yet another very weird book. That isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy it, because I did. Crypt of the […]
The nitty-gritty: A novella sized book packed with intriguing ideas and an emotional storyline, Time’s Agent gives readers plenty to think about. Time’s Agent is such a unique story, and I’m so glad I had the chance to read it. Brenda Peynado imagines a future where pocket worlds—alternate worlds where time moves either faster or […]
The nitty-gritty: A short novella full of big ideas, Exploded Remnants didn’t quite live up to its potential. Unexploded Remnants had a lot of good ideas, but overall the execution didn’t really work for me. I also struggled with the awkward writing style at times. This is a book full of big ideas in barely […]
The nitty-gritty: A surreal, complex and magical journey through one family’s odd history, A House Like An Accordion captivated me with its unique ideas and emotional family connections. “Be mindful of the act of creation, and of creating. It carries great beauty, but it exacts a cost.” Every once in a while you read a […]
The nitty-gritty: For comic book lovers, The Case of the Bleeding Wall is a perfect intro into the supernatural world of Dana Roberts. About six years ago I read and reviewed Terror is Our Business by Kasey Lansdale and Joe. R. Lansdale, a collection of stories about a supernormal detective named Dana Roberts who investigates […]