Black Corners of a Blood Red Room by Patrick Rutigliano

Posted on February 28, 2012 by

Amazon paperback

Don Hewitt isn’t sleeping well. It might be the stress of the move, the city, or perhaps the fact that he hasn’t dreamt in weeks. One night Don is confronted by a specter personifying the world that abandoned him. There is no defense as it reclaims him from reality and returns him to the hidden spheres that lay within and beyond. Each world holds a new dream, a new terror, and the echoes consume all.

When Patrick Rutigliano contacted me to review his book Black Corners of a Blood Red Room I read the synopsis and it gave no true indication of the horror and twisted nature of the many various worlds I was about to visit. The novel starts out with Don Hewitt being tormented by a lack of dreams at some point during his nightly tossing & turning Don is visited by a specter who gives him just what he wants. What happens next is a plethora (I believe 46 is the number) of nightmarish dreams (read: short stories) that cover a gambit of horrific visions and macabre destinations.

Black Corners of a Blood Red Room is what I would consider a bathroom reader. NOT because it’s crappy but because the short stories are perfect for when you just have a few minutes time to read, of course you can by all means read it all at once, but I like the idea of just getting tastes from time to time. Each story was excellently written and well developed in the time frame allotted for a short tale and some were downright creepy! The gore factor varies from story to story, but I would not say any are to the extreme.

Black Corners of a Blood Red Room gets a thumbs up from this reader for a set of highly disturbing, creepy and horrific tales…I mean dreams. Oh, were you wondering what happened to Don? Well click on one of the links provided and go find out for yourself.

Pick up your electronic copy of Black Corners of a Blood Red Room at Amazon in paperback only by clicking the cover image above. If you prefer Barnes & Noble for your paperbacks head there by clicking (HERE). All eReaders (Kindle and nook included) can find the version best suited for your reader by hitting Smashwords (HERE).

Learn more about the author Patrick Rutigliano at his website The Third Eye Opened and keep up to date on what is coming next from this author.

Espresso rating: Double with a splash of milk

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Containment Room 7 by Bryan Hall

Posted on February 25, 2012 by

Amazon paperback/Kindle

In a far corner of space, orbiting a massive black hole, the research ship DARC12 discovers a strange asteroid—one that seems to be … alive. After loading the rock onboard for study, the ship quickly descends into madness.

It begins with voices, whispers filling the shadows and the minds of the crew. A once sane man declares that their discovery is not just a rock, but a god. Then the killing begins, and a cult rises swearing allegiance to their newfound deity.

As the murders mount and the dead themselves begin to rise, a small group of survivors cling to the hope that they can somehow escape the hell they’ve been plunged into. But their problems escalate as they face an army of undead crew members, the reanimated corpses of hundreds of failed genetic experiments, the murderous cult, and—worst of all—the rapidly evolving creature in containment room 7.

Recently released by Permuted Press, author Bryan Hall takes us into space with his novel Containment Room 7. It is a fast paced thriller with just the right amount of horror to bring in the tension and hold you right on the edge of that black hole of fear.

Well thought out characters, many of whom I actually cared about and wanted to see survive or at least get just a bit further into the story and, of course, a few I wanted to see sent out an airlock, Containment Room 7 was a breath of fresh air…or would that be oxygenated air since we’re in space? Ah you get my drift. I loved the setting. The idea of being so contained, no matter how big the ship, in an environment where reanimated corpses and other things are hunting you down is frightening. I want to go on and on, but I seriously do not want to ruin anything about this book.

Containment Room 7  starts off with the discovery of a potential life form and from that point on the action and activity take off. The interactions with characters from each varying field of expertise was extremely believable and I loved getting to know a bit of backstory without having to have a huge flashback chapter. The gore and violence were there, but I’d have to say they were not overtly grotesque. Now don’t get me wrong, there were a few moments where I reacted to a death with that head pulled back and mouth all screwed up look because dang, that would have hurt and looked nasty in the process! So yes, there is some wonderfully detailed violence, but if you read zombie/horror novels then you’ll be fine.

My husband and I have been on a Star Trek kick, so this was a blast for me to read as I was watching the series. I highly recommend Containment Room 7, definitely go out and grab yourself a copy. It will be well worth your time.

Learn more about author Bryan Hall by checking out his blog The Online Home of Horror Author Bryan Hall

Purchase links for Containment Room 7 can be found for the Amazon Kindle and paperback by clicking the cover image above. Prefer Barnes & Noble? You can get your paperback or nook copies (HERE) And for other eBook readers head over to Smashwords (HERE)

Espresso rating: Quad

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Fear in Words Volume One: The Stories by Jason Darrick

Posted on February 22, 2012 by

Amazon Kindle

The debut collection of short horror stories from emerging talent, Jason Darrick. The stories guide the reader on a torturous journey of human pain and suffering, and are best consumed as a whole. Each story may stand alone, bringing the reader five visceral, emotional and cerebral tales. 

Drip begins and ends in the blink of an eye. Brian certainly won’t see it coming.

The Figure stalks Peter from afar, then makes its way dangerously closer. Can you trust your senses when the shadows come alive?

The Forest is home to a few survivors, for now. What happens when food is scarce and dangers abound?

Hanna is a cruel bitch who’ll kill to get her way, or die trying. Vincent has always been the dominant one, will he be able to handle the switch?

Mr. Vore is dedicated to helping men lose all the weight that they want, one bit of flesh at a time. How far will one man go to reinvent his body?

Remember back a while when I said I tend to dislike anthologies because  usually the  short stories in anthologies just leave me wanting? Then I changed my mind and said I was getting used to the short story format? Well thanks to author Jason Darrick and his book Fear in Words Volume One: The Stories I am, yet again, irritated because I want more.

Fear in Words Volume One: The Stories is compiled of merely 4 stories, but each story was extremely well told. The vivid description of gore and violence were tangible. The settings, which did not play large part of the stories, except in one tale, are detailed enough to allow the reader to be well aware of the surroundings and the story that did use the environment used it very well. I loved how I was made to feel both pity and loathing for some characters yet others my opinions never wavered. I’m not going to discuss the stories, because I do not want to give a single aspect away.

Suffice it to say I definitely recommend Fear in Words Volume One: The Stories. Head out and grab yourself a copy!

Learn more about author Jason Darrick by checking out his blog My Crumbling Abode and following him on Twitter: @JasonDarrick

Purchase links for Fear in Words Volume One: The Stories can be found for the Amazon Kindle by clicking the cover image above.

Espresso rating: Triple

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Where the Dead Fear to Tread by M.R. Gott

Posted on February 17, 2012 by

Amazon Kindle

A police officer and a serial killer search separately for a missing child while running a malevolent labyrinth populated by creatures they never knew existed.

Former prosecutor William Chandler, disgusted with his past inaction, spills the blood of those who victimize children to correct the ills he sees in the world. A self-admitted serial killer and uncomfortable with his actions, Chandler attends the funerals of those whose lives he has taken in an effort to retain a true understanding of the nature of violence.

The carnage left in his wake is investigated by Detective Kate Broadband, who becomes progressively more comfortable with the corpses left by Chandler. Envying the power she sees in him, she pursues Chandler as each search for Maria Verde, a missing eight-year-old girl.

As Chandler and Broadband draw closer to discovering what happened to Maria they are forced to confront The Devourer, an unnatural being trafficking in stolen children.

Where the Dead Fear to Tread is a tale of hard-boiled macabre, bridging numerous genres to reveal a story of horror, crime and revenge.

Take one part supernatural villianery and one part vigilante justice seeker mixed in with a dash of horror and gore and you have the basic recipe for M.R. Gott’s Where the Dead Fear to Tread. I have no idea if the author took his idea for William Chandler from the recent popularity from the books/tv show Dexter, but I had the image of Dexter in my head as I was reading. Chandler is a character, who takes justice into his own hands and hunts down and kills those who do harm to children. However, he then feels bad about taking a life. Not because of whose life was taken, but because of the families and friends who have to deal with the death of a loved one they only knew as a caring father/husband/friend. I loved this character! Dare I say, I think, the world needs a few people like him? Our other main protagonist is Kate Broadband. You can tell she’s usually a by the books kind of gal, but she slowly becomes a little more open to Chandler’s style of justice. The evil William and Kate are up against is of a supernatural nature in a vampire type creature simply called The Devourer. The opening scene of Where the Dead Fear to Tread gives a horrific visual of just what The Devourer does and how he gets his name. 

Scenes and settings were well done with enough visual description that I could easily imagine the local. Gore was not abundant throughout, yet when it was needed it was given plenty of room to allow the mind to fully grasp the intensity and torturous nature of the scene. The only slight issue I could say that I may have with Where the Dead Fear to Tread deals with 2 characters, a little boy and his social worker, who sort of feel thrown into the story and while it seems that the little boy is to play a very important part in the story things are kind of left hanging. Maybe there is a sequel coming that I am not aware of at the moment.

Overall, a well done thriller/mystery with enough of a horror element to keep you cringing and maybe looking around for a set of eyes watching your every move.

Pick up your electronic copy of Where the Dead Fear to Tread at Amazon for Kindle by clicking the cover image above. Nook owners hit Barnes & Noble by clicking (HERE)

Learn more about the author M.R.Gott at his website M.R.Gott’s Cutis Anserina and keep up to date on what is coming next from this author.

Espresso rating: Triple with a splash of milk

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Anything Can Be Dangerous by Matt Hults

Posted on February 14, 2012 by

Amazon Kindle/paperback

Matt Hults’Anything Can Be Dangerous is an interesting book. The first, essentially, half is made up of 4 unique stories. The rest of the book consists of 7 previews to not only Hults’ Husk, but for 3 other author’s works.

Anything Can Be Dangerous is the title of the 1st story we come upon. Greg’s life seems to finally be taking a turn to the positive when, suddenly, the things his mother always used to worry about started becoming reality. Yes, anything can be dangerous and you won’t believe what is the source of the problem. In Feeding Frenzy, 2 friends looking into the possiblity of opening a fast food joint find themselves serving the most gruesome of customers and it doesn’t seem like the place closes…for anything. The 3rd story, Through the Valley of Death, introduces us to a family who has an accident and must work their way through the woods to get to the nearby town before they freeze. Problem is the the natives of this land don’t take kindly to people passing through. Finally we have The Finger, in which a two of the dregs of society attempt a get rich quick scheme that horrible backfires on them and many around them.

Overall Anything Can Be Dangerous is made up of a good group of stories. I really enjoyed Feeding Frenzy, it was very humorous with a nice touch of the squeemies.  Through the Valley of Death was another favored tale, containing a nice bit of eeriness that kept me only toes as I read.

The 7 previews:

  • Matt Hults’ – Husk
  • Gary Brandner’s – The Howling
  • Gary Brandner’s – The Howling II
  • Gary Brandner’s – The Howling III
  • James Roy Daley’s – Terror Town
  • James Roy Daley’s – Into Hell
  • Paul Kane’s – Pain Cages

The only couple of things I want to address in regards to the previews is a positive and a negative.The positive: each book that was previewed has been added to my list to read. Yep, each one grabbed my attention and I want to read more. The negative: 3 of the books were part of a trilogy and I was given a preview to all 3 parts, which means I was made aware of who from book 1 survived to make it to book 2. I didn’t like that…I don’t like knowing ahead of time who will survive.

Anything Can Be Dangerous contains 4 short stories and a plethora of previews for upcoming books, all for the low low price of FREE for Kindle/nook and other eBook readers! Those who prefer holding a physical book in their hands can still own a copy, but it’ll cost you a bit, which is totally understandable. Click the cover image to visit Amazon for your Kindle or paperback copy. Barnes & Noble nook/paperback click (HERE) and for all other eReaders go (HERE) to hit up Smashwords for your electronic copy.

Espresso rating: Triple

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The Cove by Fred Anderson

Posted on February 11, 2012 by

Amazon Kindle

Six months ago, John Burleson woke from a nightmare, about a quiet little cove off the Tennessee River and the terrible event he witnessed there as a boy. Now the dream is coming almost every night, always the same, robbing him of his sleep and sanity. John’s only hope lies in revisiting the past — and coming to grips with what happened all those years ago.

Fred Anderson’s The Cove, took me back to my youth when I was obsessed with the movie Stand By Me. Having very similar qualities to the movie (yes, I know the movie was based on Stephen Kings’ short story The Body, but I’ve never read it, so my thoughts are movie based) The Cove is the story of John Burleson’s narration to his wife, and the audience, of a continuing nightmare from an event he witnessed in his youth and his determination to go and face his fear. What happens at the end will, of course, remain a mystery until you read this wonderful novelette for yourself. 

Filled with edge of your seat nerve wracking suspense, that familiar sense of nostalgia one gets from reliving a story from the past whether good or bad and a hint of the naughty things young boys do in their youth, The Cove is definitely worth a read. Might I suggest reading it in front of a crackling fire with a nice glass of bourbon

Pick up your copy of The Cove for Amazon Kindle by clicking the cover image above. The author, Fred Anderson can be found on Twitter at @TheFredAnderson.

Espresso rating: Triple with a splash of milk

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MalContents (4 novellas)

Posted on February 8, 2012 by

Amazon Kindle/paperback

Join four of today’s best horror authors as they take you on a journey through dark lands and evil minds. 

MalContents is a book containing 4 novellas, each with their own sick and twisted spin. First up we have Randy Chandler’s Howler, the tale of a prostitute turned sideshow freak at a carnival. How is she a freak you may ask…well, she’s a wolf girl and over the course of the story we learn of the horrible reality of her life. Coming off of the popularity of celebrity chefs and various cooking shows, The Mushrooms by Gregory L Norris, introduces us to a chef at a party celebrating her newest cookbook release being stabbed over the plagiarism of a recipe by a crazed woman. Retreating to her family cabin to mend, the chef soon comes to realize that something is amiss. A computer repair man is accosted by a madman and is given a choice, kill his wife or his daughter before midnight or they both die. That is the premise Choose by Ryan C Thomas which shows us that sometimes even the most subtle of choices we make can impact everyone we love. Finally there is David T Wilbanks’  The Outsider Trio where a man searches for his missing love only to find that magical/mystical events have caused her disappearance.

Each tale within the pages of MalContents is a very solid piece of work. The characters and settings were wonderfully laid out and detailed. I have to admit that Choose gave me a twisted feeling in my stomach as things unfolded and learned what was happening to the family and way. The Mushrooms, while a bit on the odd side was another fun one for me as my husband, author Tony Faville, is also a retired chef. Howler was violent and very sexual at times, but I truly felt for the poor wolf girl at times during her life. Ending the book with The Outsider Trio, a tale of love lost and found with a mixture of  supernatural evil was a nice way to complete the journey I was taken on while reading MalContents.

This book reviewer definitely suggests MalContents to anyone who enjoys a fantastic concoction of magic, psychological fornication of the mind and creatures that cause you to feel pity and repulsion at the same time.

Learn more about Grand Mal Press and their other titles (HERE). More information on authors Ryan C. Thomas, David T. Wilbanks, and Gregory L Norris can be found by clicking their names which will send you to their blogs. (unable to find a blog for author Randy Chandler)

Grab your copy of MalContents at Amazon for Kindle or paperback by clicking the cover image above. Barnes and Noble users & nook owners can go (HERE) for nook and paperback copies and those with other types of eReaders may visit Smashwords (HERE) for your download.

Espresso rating: Triple with a splash of milk

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