Jennifer Hatfield, Author and Book Reviewer
Guest Book Reviews
I decided recently that having guests post their book reviews in here will give a
broader scope of books to consider.
Last Stop
Anthology by 13 different authors
REVIEWED BY Rose Shavelle
I had heard a lot about this book while it was being written and during the publishing process. When I saw the cover, it really put a visual in my mind of what I should be expecting.
I was very excited to read it and became even more excited when I was offered an ARC.
Thank you David and Eerie River for this book.
Route 13 and Whiskey Pete’s are the primary setting for this paranormal horror story. The constant characters at Whiskey Pete’s are Con Muldoon, Lorne Peterson (aka Dale), Joel Masterson, Melvin Washington, and Stacey Jenkins. While each chapter involves its own primary characters with its own background, they all end up in the same place—Whiskey Pete’s.
I have decided, for this review, to pull a quote from each chapter so that I do not provide any possible spoilers.
Chapter 1 James and Nia
“Sorry I'm late,” she whispered. “I thought I heard Dad down in the kitchen. Didn't want to risk coming out until he was back in bed.”
Chapter 2 Dave and Jillian
“You sure do ask a lot of questions, girly,” Melvin wheezed, in a long, slow Southern drawl that Jill and Dave had to focus on to understand.
Chapter 3
Toombs
“He screamed, writhing in terror and disgust, unable to wrench free from his bonds as the roaches descended upon him and millions of little, sickly, sticky legs scuttled over him.”
Chapter 4
Baby Cakes
“No matter what improbable boogeymen you folks seem to think is out there, I’ll be there to stand with my guys”
Chapter 5
Christina
“I was wondering if there might be a mechanic around here. I’m not keen on trudging the twenty or so miles back to Chevron, and I didn’t see a single other car all afternoon.”
Chapter 6
Trent
“The road hadn’t seen maintenance since probably the last American walked on the moon and it showed. Short patches of broken tarmac gave way to longer stretches of rutted, dried mud and gravel.”
Chapter 7
Dani
“But the growing unease trickling through her had been on-target. Her mom was in trouble—the horrible, chilling, life-threatening kind—and Dani had let her walk out the door.”
Chapter 8
Zia
“The only thing you dug was your own grave. You’re lucky Wheeler missed, or you’d have ended up like your PI.”
Chapter 9
Josie
“Everything you want is out there, just waiting for you to ask.”
Chapter 10
Ben
“He scowled. “I want revenge. Not for me, but Lucy,” he said, as he accompanied her to the car, still brooding, hands clenched deep in his pockets.”
Chapter 11
Audrey
“How far have I wandered from the trail? She glanced behind and saw a wall of thick trunks, as though the forest had filled in behind her. ”
Chapter 12
Jasper and Huck
“The box droned on with its white noise, but he heard beyond it. Underneath the static and skips, a sound rose. A cry of a thousand voices behind a thick, black veil.”
Chapter 13
Nick Holleran
“It’s coming from the bar area. The words drift to me and grow stronger as I approach what must be the oldest looking man that ever walked the planet. ”
Conclusion Some of these chapters were a bit gruesome; if that is something you enjoy with your dark speculative fiction, then this book is definitely for you. The authors meshed their chapters together so well creating a horror story that flows along perfectly in my opinion. I highly recommend it.
Whispers in the Dark
AUTHORED BY KB ELIJAH
REVIEWED BY Nikki DeKeuster
The premise of this novelette pulled me in like a black, soul-sucking void, in all the best ways. K.B. Elijah takes this immense feeling of lack of hope, year after year, and hammers it home in ways that were heartfelt, relatable, and poignant. Rather than being depressing, it was refreshing to read such a raw account of what it feels like to be in such a place.
I shared a dark empathy with Agent Ivory, and I would hope that anyone who has ever clawed their way out of the pits of despair might say likewise. In a strange and wonderful way, I found this story to be therapeutic. So when that voice comes to him, after so long, asking him to hope and he resists and struggles, I was enthralled to see what would come of it. Who or what was this voice, and what were its motives?
The story that unfolds from there becomes more complex and treacherous with each step. It’s a short-read, but the author’s fluid and soulful prose made it hard for me to stop once I began. Her emotions spill over each page and the ending was both satisfying and horrifying in its own right. If you’re looking for smart, deep, lasting horror that makes you think, give this one a read.
Plus, it’s super cute and pocket-sized.
I’ve got a new author to place on my shelf of favorites. :)
The Pseudopod That Rocks the Cradle
AUTHORED BY TIM MENDEES
REVIEWED BY ROSE SHAVELLE
This cover, first of all, grabbed my attention long before I was offered an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The nursery setting, the title, and the tentacles fit together perfectly. I cant wait to get into it.
Thank you Tim for the book.
A few of my favorites include the following:
What The Butler Saw—We meet Jenkins, the butler, and discover how he likes to sneak a peek every now and then.
A Matter of Recycling—Stuart, a character who, in my opinion, receives his just desserts. This story was easy to read and enjoyable to follow. I love when there is a nice twist included.
The Hollow Hills—Characters moved the story along at a nice even pace. John, Nelly, and Adam spend a lot of time together amongst the other characters.
Afterimage, The Parasite Code, The Pseudopod that Rocks the Cradle and many more fill this cosmic horror anthology. Tim’s short stories are always a great source to give you a fright or two.
⅘ stars
Last Stop Review Nikki DeKeuster
Anthology with stories from:
Holley Cornetto
L. T. Emery
Peter J. Foote
J.W. Garrett
David Green
Stephen Herczeg
Abigail Linhardt
Beth W. Patterson
Lynne Phillips
Austin Shirey
Joshua D Taylor
V. A. Vazquez
Patrick Winters
Palpable Ambiance and Irreverent Humor.
Okay, first of all, the ambiance of this Route 13 hell-hole is palpable and eye-catching in its own right. The authors weave this feeling through each tale they tell and many of the stories feed into and connect to one another in clever and intriguing ways.
There are a number of cookie-cutter stories in here, with the main characters meeting the exact fate you know they will, but there are also some gems that veer off in new and interesting directions and deepen the overall story. Ultimately, in an anthology like this, you need both types of tales and so I found the standard stories to feed into the overarching narrative in a positive way.
There is an irreverent feel to this book with the postcards sent forth from this hellish place proving to be a particularly devilish highlight. They really add to the immersion...not that Whiskey Pete's is exactly where I'd like to hang out in reality.
I'm a fan of Nick Holleran and so finding him in here was a treat. I am also a fan of Toombs and Josie's stories, though there is some fine writing throughout, I'm just a twisted sort. The ending was satisfying and made me smile on several levels, even as I wanted to see more of the title character, Pete.
This is a warped anthology and an evil/fun setting to get lost in for a while. But don't get too lost...or you might never find your way out...