Book Reviews
Reviews for Horror/Thriller books, short stories and novels
Before Cain Strikes by Joshua Corin (Book Review)
[rating:3.5/5]
School is in session. The subject is murder. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. The only problem is, in this online classroom the students are would-be serial killers eager to learn the tricks of the trade from a master, the enigmatic Cain42. FBI consultant Esme Stuart is struggling to stanch the doubt and fear eating away at her marriage. Now a seedy truecrime writer is dredging up the deadly confrontation that nearly destroyed her. Esme knows her involvement in the case could cost her everything. Her marriage. Her daughter. Her life. But when Cain openly challenges his “students” to embark on a killing spree, she has no choice but to act— before Cain strikes another victim down… Continue reading
A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson (Book Review)
Tom Wallace lived an ordinary life, until a chance event awakened psychic abilities he never knew he possessed. Now he's hearing the private thoughts of the people around him-and learning shocking secrets he never wanted to know. But as Tom's existence becomes a waking nightmare, even greater jolts are in store as he becomes the unwilling recipient of a compelling message from beyond the grave! This book inspired the acclaimed 1999 film starring Kevin Bacon.
I’m a sucker for reading books that were eventually made into movies. I like to read them before I see the movie if and when possible. Most of the time I don’t realize there is a book before watching the movie though. That was the case with this book... Continue reading
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello (Book Review)
Stephen Rebello brings to life the creation of one of Hollywood's most iconic films, from the story of Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein, the real-life inspiration for the character of Norman Bates, to Hitchcock's groundbreaking achievements in cinematography, sound, editing, and promotion. Packed with captivating insights from the film's stars, writers, and crew members.
Let it be known right off the bat that I’m a fan of the movie Psycho (not the remake) and its sequels. I’m also a fan of other horror movies and horror stories and novels. I’ve been running horror websites... Continue reading
All Hallow’s Eve: The One Day it’s BAD to be Good by Carolyn McCray (Book Review)
People are being martyred but not for their faith. Instead the deaths are part of a serial killer's sick game as he chooses his victim by their name... then kills them in that Saint's grisly manner.
After finally finishing this book, I’m not quite sure what to think of it. In the end it was a mix of an adult book (with the police aspect) and a young adult slasher novel (with most of the character development between... Continue reading
Broken Rule by Joshua Scribner (Book Review)
This is a very short story about two couples who are stranded when their car breaks down and are being chased by something evil. They find a house that has a sign stating that evil cannot enter so they take refuge in it.
This story is probably no more then 10 real pages, if that. On the kindle it actually ends at 80% and the last 20% is a preview chapter of the authors next book. In Kindle language it is 254 “locations” and it ends on location 203... Continue reading
Chain Letter 2 The Ancient Evil by Christopher Pike (Book Review)
After receiving a chain letter, a group of teens decides it must be a joke--after all, the perpetrator of the original chain letter is dead and buried. But when Fran refuses to perform her "deed", she is severely punished, and the group realizes that the power behind the letters is still alive.
I think I’d only read this book once as a teen and I didn’t like it overall. Going into it this time around I couldn’t remember much, but as I kept reading things came back to me... Continue reading
Chain Letter by Christopher Pike (Book Review)
When Alison first read the chain letter signed "Your Caretaker," she thought it was some terrible sick joke. Someone, somewhere knew about that awful night when she and six other friends committed an unthinkable crime in the desolate California desert. And now that person was determined to make them pay for it. One by one, the chain letter was coming to each of them ... demanding dangerous, impossible deeds... threatening violence if the demands were not met. No one out of the seven wanted to believe that this nightmare was really happening to them. Until the accidents started happening — and the dying... Continue reading
Crack in the Glass by Jonathan Carter (Book Review)
Gina Sanders thought she would be proudly representing Gamma Beta on the popular ghost hunting-reality game show Graveyard Shift and net herself a comfy little nest egg for her segue from college to the real world. It should have been a piece of cake — do a little ghost hunting, fulfill the dares put in front of her, and walk away with a cool $20,000 after giving up a few screams for television. It should have been a piece of cake.
This short story runs about 10 actual pages, and started off like so many ghost hunting shows I’ve seen over the years. It most specifically reminded me of MTV’s Fear… Continue reading
Dead Man Walking by Marty Shaw (Book Review)
Griffin knew watching an inmate being put to death wouldn't be fun, but he never expected Callahan to return as something less than human. Now Griffin, along with a handful of officers and inmates, are trapped within the walls of a prison as a legion of the walking dead stalk them for food. The choice is simple - fight back or die.
Seeing how this is a short story, there isn’t all that much to write about in response to how I liked the story other then saying I loved it... Continue reading
Endurance by Jack Kilborn (Book Review)
The bed and breakfast was hidden in the hills of West Virginia. Wary guests wondered how it could stay in business at such a creepy, remote location, especially with its bizarre, presidential decor and eccentric proprietor.With the event hotel for the national Iron Woman triathlon accidentally overbooked, competitor Maria was forced to stay at the Rushmore. But after checking into her room, she quickly realized she wasn't alone. First her suitcase wasn't where she put it. Then her cell phone was moved. Finally, she heard an odd creaking under the bed. Confusion quickly turned to fear, and fear to hysteria when she discovered the front door was barred and the windows were bricked over. There was no way out.One year later, four new female athletes have become guests of the Inn. Will they escape the horrors within its walls? Or will they join the many others who have died there, in ways too terrible to imagine? Continue reading
Faint of Heart by Jeff Strand (Book Review)
Rebecca is frightened of spending the night alone, but she assures her husband Gary that she'll be fine when he goes out camping with buddies. She knows she'll spend the entire time jumping at every noise, but she also knows that the danger is all in her head. By Sunday night, Gary still hasn't returned. And when somebody shows up at the house, it's not her husband. At gunpoint, Rebecca is kidnapped. They also have her husband and will give him back to her, but first, Rebecca has to relive his entire experience, step by step...and survive...
I like to read short stories between longer books for something different and quick. Also because if it sucks, well then I didn’t invest too much time or money... Continue reading
First Date (Fear Street #16) by R.L. Stine (Book Review)
Chelsea is the typical shy girl. Always home on a Saturday night, she would give anything to have her first date. Finally, Chelsea's luck begins to change when two new guys move into town and both ask her out. Too bad that one of Chelsea's new boys has a terrible hobby -- murder. Now Chelsea may be looking for love, but he's looking for a new victim.
As a teenager in Jr. High, I LOVED R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike books. I was a huge horror fan, but I wasn’t into reading at all until I picked up R.L. Stine’s “Hit & Run” book back when I was 12 or 13 years old. From that point on I was hooked... Continue reading