Grind Your Bones To Dust By Nicholas Day Excession Press Dissected into four distinct, yet connected parts, Day’s debut novel flows at a relentless pace. Part one depicts a man named Louis Loving fleeing across the Oregon desert, desperate to escape a haunted past and the grisly experience of having just watched his friends ripped […]
Reviewing InkStained: On Creativity, Writing, and Art, by John Urbancik
INKSTAINED: ON CREATIVITY, WRITING, AND ART John Urbancik Dark Fluidity *This review first appeared in Rue Morgue Magazine #191, Nov/Dec XMas issue 2019* Capturing the heart of John Urbancik’s podcasts across 2017 and 2018, InkStained proves essential reading for any writer looking to hone their craft. Hell, it might even appease readers who ask, for […]
Reviewing Highway Twenty by Michael J. Moore
Highway Twenty By Michael J. Moore A HellBound Books Publishing LLC Book Something awful is worming its way into Sedrow Woolley, a small hick town off (surprise!) Highway Twenty. Wasting no time, the opening chapter is a gut-punch, establishing Moore’s talent for making us effectively uncomfortable. Then we meet Conor Mitchell, a young mechanic pondering […]
Reviewing Night Train by Thomas F. Monteleone
Night TrainBy Thomas F. MonteleoneBorderland Press/Gauntlet Press 2019 Originally published in 1984, Night Train roars back to life for the first time in hardcover, rebooted to scare the crap out of a whole new generation. In an era where paranoia and end-of-the-world fears already run rampant, the inhabitants of New York are about to face […]
Southern Darkness: Reviewing AJ Brown’s Brown Bag Stories, With Bonus Interview
High A short story by A.J. Brown 2019 AJ’s Southern Horror series – also referred to by the author as Brown Bag Stories – are presented in stapled booklets complete with eye-grabbing covers. Volume One, High, wastes no time throwing us into the passenger seat as our protagonist, Jill, arrives home after her daily grind […]
Reviewing Canadian Author, Kit Daven, With Bonus Interview
The Cannibal’s Handbook and Spider Spun By Kit Daven 2019 The Cannibal’s Handbook One of the greatest joys I have as a reviewer is discovering new authors to add to my favourites list. When it’s an author writing out of my own local backyard, all the better. Such is the case when I met Kit […]
Reviewing What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson
What Dreams May Come By Richard Matheson Originally published in 1978 What Dreams May Come is a powerful story that captures the mind, heart and spirit of all who read it. It’s tough to put into words the feelings conjured by such a story, but as a reviewer it’s expected of me to try. […]
Reviewing Succulent Prey by Wrath James White
Succulent Prey By Wrath James White PB edition published in 2008 by Leisure Books Succulent Prey is every bit as nasty as the title suggests. It requires its readers to indulge in many a shower as a feeble attempt to rinse off the sexually charged carnage certain to drench those who dare dwell […]
Reviewing Jeff Strand’s Cold Dead Hands
Cold Dead Hands is the latest tale of chilling terror from Jeff Strand, and not merely due to its many scenes of gore filled mayhem, but also because it actually takes place in a walk-in freezer. For our main character, Barry, a simple trip to the grocery store to satisfy his need for an avocado […]
Brothers In Arms: A Tribute to The Beardless Warriors
Brothers In Arms Edited by Barry Hoffman, Richard Christian Matheson Gauntlet Press Brothers In Arms is the newest anthology from award-winning publisher Gauntlet Press and is a tribute to Richard Matheson’s 1960 World War II novel, The Beardless Warriors. Brought together for a good cause are twenty-five of the best writers alive to ever put […]
Reviewing Closing the Wound by A.J. Brown
Let me start off by hazarding a guess and suggest that most of you have never heard of A.J. Brown (that’s Jeff to his friends). If I’m right, I certainly won’t hold that against you. And if I’m wrong, then advantage goes to you. A.J. stems from that rare and special corner of the writer’s […]
The Starving Queen by Dean Italiano – book review
*Review originally appeared at Hell Notes* Published by P.I.C. Publishing, 2017 464 pages The Starving Queen, Dean Italiano’s most recent novel, is every bit as terrifying as it is true for far too many of us. The insidious force of Dean’s villain burrows into those she seeks when at their weakest moments, no matter how […]
Reviewing Track of My Tears by author and award winning publisher, Barry Hoffman
Barry HoffmanTrack of My TearsGauntlet Press2018 With the final words from the last pages only moments behind me, Track of My Tears leaves much to be digested. Across the spectrum of so many moving parts my rolling emotions constitute Barry Hoffman’s most ambitious, gut-wrenching novel to date. Never one to shy away from putting a […]
DARK BITES Reviews LOVE CURSE by Steven E. Wedel
Love Curseby Steven E. WedelMoon Howler Press 2017280 pages Love Curse is a coming of age story predominantly centering around four teens from the small town of Windy Acres, Oklahoma. We soon meet Ashley, a small town girl who keeps herself pretty well adjusted. A top achieving academic, she enjoys blending in with her school’s choir group though […]
REVIEWING A LIGHT BEYOND BY STEVE WEDEL
A LIGHT BEYOND Steve Wedel Moon Howler Press June, 2017 Reviewed by Rick Hipson Deciding to take publishing matters into his own hands, author, Steven E. Wedel, recently launched his own publishing house called Moon Howler Press. MHP hosts a library of titles showcasing the author’s cross genre appeal, with A LIGHT BEYOND being one of […]
Reviewing THE RESURRECTIONIST By Wrath James White
THE RESSURECTIONIST Dorchester Publication, 2009 By Wrath James White **Warning: The following review contains some plot points which are key to the over all story. **You might be wondering why I’m bothering to review a book some eight years past its initial publication date. It really boils down to me not wanting you to make […]
REVIEWING BARRY HOFFMAN’S BLOOD SACRIFICE
Blood Sacrifice Barry Hoffman 2017 Next Century Publishing This is easily Barry Hoffman’s most mature and polished novel to date which isn’t to take anything away from his previous works by any means. Barry has always been a champion of the minimalistic approach and with this latest offering his talent for packing a wallop with […]
REVIEWING RC MATHESON’S ZOOPRAXIS
REVIEWING ZOOPRAXIS A Collection by Richard Christian Matheson Written by Richard Christian Matheson Published by Gauntlet Press Whether you’re an established RC Matheson connoisseur or you’ve just discovered his work, Zoopraxisis sure to satiate any fan of raw, visceral literature. Waiting to oblige such cravings are thirteen brand new stories with nine more gathered from […]
REVIEWING STEPHEN KING’S REVIVAL
Hell Notes hosts my first review of the year, which I hope you’ll check out before doing yourself a favour and grabbing a copy of Revival to read. I haven’t given King a chance since trying to wade through From a Buick 8 way back when, but let’s just say I am a […]
reviewing Barry Hoffmann’s BLIND VENGEANCE
Barry Hoffmann, owner of Stoker nominated specialty press, Gauntlet Press, knocks another one out of the park with Blind Vengeance, his newest offering in his critically acclaimed ‘Eyes series. See what I thought of his latest book over on Hell Notes with this review.