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David Miller is on his own since his wife and kids took shelter at her parents’ house after the Mississippi River floods. He decides to see who in the county he can help, and finds himself in the town of Clayton as he steers his boat through the high waters.

He tries to offer help, but it is made clear he is not welcome in the town. Determined to find someone who needs him, he meets Maggie in a store and helps her get her purchased goods back to her home. While they steer their boats to their destination, David and Maggie are attacked by a curious human-like creature that emerges from the water.

David is shaken, but gets even more information than he bargained for when they reach Maggie’s home. Her boyfriend Roger explains about the “hybrids” they constantly fight, who live in the water around the town, serving their god Mauz-Gurloth. Many women of the town allow themselves to be impregnated by this god, passing its eggs from their bodies that hatch new hybrids.

David finds himself in the middle of a battle that he hopes he’ll live through, wanting to see his wife and kids and to repair his marriage. But there are so many hybrids that the task of defeating them and their god seems insurmountable.

From Murky Depths is a good original story that had me turning the pages to see what would happen next. It’s a story of good and evil, of trying to keep your faith in the face of dark forces. There is a good balance of religion and horror; even a heathen such as myself will enjoy reading it.

If you like creature horror, you’ll want to get From Murky Depths. It’s a short read, but a lot of fun.


Review by Sheri White

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Four men take their annual trip to hunt for elk on a mountain when one of them breaks a leg. They manage to get him inside an abandoned house, but when the three men gather outside to discuss the situation, their friend is brutally murdered - but there is nobody around that they can see.

Thinking that maybe a bear had broken in through a hole in the wall of the house, the others arm themselves, ready to kill the bear if it showed itself again. But when another one of the men is killed practically right in front of them, they realize it’s not just a bear they are dealing with.

The two remaining men have to try and stay alive during the night, not only watching for whatever is out there, but also trying not to freeze to death.

I enjoyed this story very much, and read it in just a couple of hours because I didn’t want to stop. I had to find out what was stalking the men, and although I thought I had it figured out early in the story, I was wrong. The stalker was a lot more frightening than I thought.

Snowblind is a suspenseful, creepy, gory ride that grabs you from the very first page and doesn’t let you breathe until the last.

Review by Sheri White

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I heard Norman Prentiss read from this book at the Horrorfind convention in late September. The excerpt he read gave me the creeps, especially since Norm is very soft-spoken - his quiet voice made his tale even more horrific.


Curtis has returned home to see his dying mother. She is bedridden, attended by a nurse and her other son, Glen. Once Curtis arrives, he notices that his brother has lost a lot of weight and seems to be obsessed with exercising. Curtis himself begins to have nightmares. One night he hears the nurse tell his mother the story of The Fleshless Man, a creature so horrific, looking at its face practically drives a man insane.

After hearing the nurse’s tale - and Curtis is never sure if that was a real story or a dream - Curtis’s thoughts turn dark; he imagines hurting his mother, putting her out of her misery. He also wants to help his brother, who seems to have developed anorexia, according to the nurse. Soon, everything comes to a head, and Curtis must face his fears and deal with his family’s secrets and problems.

The Fleshless Man quietly sneaks up on the reader, delivering a sense of unease and dread. The line between dream and wakefulness is thin, leaving the reader to wonder what is real.

Norman Prentiss is a two-time Bram Stoker Award winner, and it’s easy to see why. His writing is flawless, giving The Fleshless Man a depth not usually seen in a horror novel. You won’t want to put this book down.


Review by Sheri White

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I love short story collections from up-and-coming authors. There’s something cool about discovering a new talent and know that you’re going to want to see more of their work in the future.

Brady Allen’s collection is no different. There are some great stories in here, and while he hangs out with all the cool horror kids, not all of the stories are horror. A few of the stories were actually pretty sad, and some had a real wistfulness to them.

The first story, “Slow Mary,” is a horror story, and starts of the collection with a real creep factor. You’ll think twice before speeding down any small country roads.

I’m not usually a fan of surreal stories, but “Not Over Easy,” while it messed with my head, is one that I really enjoyed.

The title story is another surreal story that also gave me a bit of claustrophobia in that the main character couldn’t find his way out of the situation he had gotten himself into. When he finally did find his way out, he didn’t get his happy ending.

There are two stories with the character Rose Holmes - “The Taste of a Heart” and “Six Miles from Earth.” Rose proves in both stories that she is not a woman to mess with.

“Small Square of Light” is one of the stories that I felt was wistful. A man notices an untended corn field and farm house across from his hotel room and wonders if there is a old woman, alone and lonely, looking back at the hotel from her window. It’s beautifully written.

“Road Kill (A Love Story)” is a story you think is going to be kind of gross, but then realize it truly is a love story, and a sad one at that.

I wasn’t disappointed in any of the stories in Back Roads & Frontal Lobes. I enjoyed this collection very much, and look forward to more of Brady’s work. He’s definitely an author to watch.


Review by Sheri White

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A serial killer is loose in Atlanta in 1911. He preys on bi-racial women, mutilating them while they’re alive, and raping them after they’re dead. Robert Jackson owns a barber shop in the neighborhood, and is asked by police to help them find the killer. Other African-Americans in the neighborhood are recruited as well.

Robert takes his role very seriously, questioning everybody and keeping an eye out for anything or anyone suspicious. But what he discovers will shake him to his very core.

One hundred years later, Carmen Mendoza is a reporter investing a new series of killings. She discovers a link that sets her to researching the 1911 murders. She interviews a prisoner who has been convicted of murder, and he tells her about the curse and the ‘fury.” The fury is something that lives inside the killer, making him kill to satisfy his urges. And it sounds like the fury has come back to Atlanta.

Both Gonzales and White are amazing writers, so a collaboration between the two was a great idea. The Killings is extreme horror; rape, mutilation, and prejudice are just a few elements that are offensive to those who don’t read such a genre. It’s a great story that will keep you riveted.

However - I was disappointed with the ending. You don’t want the reveal to be obvious, but the identity of the killer in 2011 came completely out of nowhere. I also didn’t like what happened to Carmen; it reminded me of the ending of Hannibal, which I didn’t care for.

But all-in-all, The Killings is a book worth reading; it seemed a lot of research went into life in 1911. I could see everything in my mind as it would’ve been. If you’re a fan of either author, or both authors, you’ll want this for your bookshelf.


Review by Sheri White

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Anna Grish is a hoarder surrounded by clutter, trash and filth. But she doesn’t mind. It’s safe and secure. But when she becomes trapped until a pile of fallen debris, her son Pete finally realizes how bad the situation has gotten. Anna had not allowed her family to come in her house, so none of them had any idea of the danger Anna had created.

After she gets out of the hospital, Anna reluctantly moves in with her son’s family. Katherine, Pete’s wife, is also not happy about the situation, but deals with it for her husband’s sake.

Once Anna recovers, she decides she wants to move back into her house, even though it’s practically condemned. Pete protests, so Anna sneaks over to her house when her son isn’t home. But there’s something living in the hoard now - something that wants Anna, wants to control her and become part of her.

Anna eventually disappears into the hoard, overtaken by the organisms growing in the hoard and now inside of Anna. And the hoard isn’t satisfied with just Anna.

I’ve been fascinated with hoarders since the reality show debuted on A&E a couple years ago. Of course, nothing but bugs live in those hoards; the organisms living in Alan Ryker’s hoard are menacing and evil. They want your soul. The story reminds me a little bit of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

I loved The Hoard. It’s creepy, yet fascinating. The ending is such that there could be a sequel - and I hope there is. Definitely pick up The Hoard - not only will it creep you out, it will inspire you to get to that cleaning you’ve been putting off.


Review by Sheri White

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The Korn Society, a group that follows the teachings of Dr. Peter Korn, has decided to build a meeting place for the Society. They discuss various architects, and finally decide that Alexius Nachtman has the vision and passion needed to design a meeting place the Korn cultists deserve.

But Nachtman is a bit of a madman, and the meeting place he designs not only uses brick and mortar, but quite literally the lifeblood of its workers and worshipers. As the building rises to the sky, Nachtman grows crazier and more frenzied about how the building should look and feel.

By the time the building is on the verge of completion, all of Nachtman’s craziness and ruthlessness comes to a head, and those around him will pay the price.

I wasn’t too sure about The Architect throughout the first few chapters. It was slow, and I wasn’t quite sure what was going on. But then I got it - and I was hooked. Nachtman’s eccentricity was written so well, that although some of his decisions were gross and horrifying, they weren’t very surprising. Indeed, those decisions fit the story perfectly.

I was fascinated by the building of the cult’s meeting place. The level of dedication to Korn and Nachtman was scary, but reminded me of cults such as that of Jim Jones’s back in the 70s, when they committed mass suicide by drinking poison.

The Architect is an amazing story of dedication and tenacity, and how regular people can get caught up in someone else’s madness. Don’t miss out.

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Matt Poe is the new kid in school who just wants to blend in and make friends like any other teenager. And like most teenage boys, Matt has a crush on his gorgeous English teacher, Ms. Hayden, and fantasizes about her during class when he should be working. Matt’s life is turned upside down when Ms. Hayden tells him to stay after class to talk to him about his grades. What starts out as simple tutoring soon turns into a nightmare for Matt, as well as his new friends Grace and Rusty.

At first it seems as if Matt’s fantasies have come true; Ms. Hayden seduces Matt, and keeps him in a frenzy of lust and secrecy. But after a while, Matt realizes his teacher is actually obsessed with him and breaks off the illicit relationship. Ms. Hayden doesn’t deal with it well, and blackmails Matt with a picture she took of them in bed together.

Once Matt and Grace start seeing each other, things start to go downhill in Matt’s life. Ms. Hayden makes Matt’s life a living hell, accusing him of rape, leaving him scared and angry. He finally turns to Grace, who shares her own secret about Ms. Hayden with him. Together, they decide to find the blackmail picture so Matt will be cleared.

But they’re not the only ones looking to get back at Ms. Hayden.

Don’t Stand So Close is definitely not a “Mrs. Robinson” type of story. The older woman in this novel is wicked, cunning and out to destroy Matt’s life. Once Matt is over his infatuation, he sees Ms. Hayden as she really is and desperately tries to disentangle himself from her web of evil. But the more Matt tries, the more he is stuck with no way out.

Eric Red has crafted an excellent tale of suspense. The tension throughout the story is palpable. I enjoyed Don’t Stand So Close very much; it was difficult to put down, and the ending was great and unexpected. I’m looking forward to reading more of Eric’s work in the future.


Review by Sheri White

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The Hungry, by Steven W. Booth and Harry Shannon

The nightmare starts when Sheriff Penny Miller is contacted by her deputy, Bob Wells, that people are attacking each other, biting their flesh. Although Deputy Wells is convinced the town’s population is turning into zombies, Penny isn’t until he practically leads them to the jail. Knowing that one of her duties is to keep her prisoners safe, she lets them, Needles and Scratch, out of their cells to get them to safety. But all hell breaks loose before they can evacuate, and from then on, the chaos never stops.

Clad in her old wedding dress - and you must read to find out why - Penny not only has to battle zombies, but also has to deal with the incompetent military, her cowardly ex-husband, the evil scientist who set off the apocalypse and a biker she isn’t sure she can trust.

Once Penny is infected, it’s a race against time to get her treated before she turns. In the meantime, Penny becomes a badass zombie fighter no human would want to go up against. But when it comes to the treatment injection, Penny has a choice to make since its effects are unknown.

In a time when zombie books are all the rage, The Hungry stands out as something special. The action never stops, and at times the book is laugh-out-loud funny. It’s a fun book to read, and you don’t want it to end, which is fine, because….


The Hungry 2 - The Wrath of God, by Steven W. Booth and Harry Shannon

Did Penny accept the treatment? Do they now have a chance in the war against zombies? What happens next?

These questions are answered in the sequel, but of course, new challenges appear. Now the Army wants Penny and her friends to return to the secret location where the virus was made. Escorted by a group of mercenaries led by a woman called “Rat,” Penny and her group find there are more zombies to kill, more people to mistrust and more blood and guts by a mile, not to mention a nuclear weapon set to take out the desert around them.

When they meet Abraham, things start looking up for a while - until they realize he is batshit crazy and have gotten themselves into a dangerous situation once again. Religious zealots aren’t fun to deal with in the best of times, let alone a zombie apocalypse.

As in the first book, there is a ton of action in The Hungry 2. It’s also funny, suspenseful, and gory. Don’t get attached to anybody; like a real zombie apocalypse, nobody is safe.

Sheriff Penny Miller is one of the best characters to come along in quite a while. It’s great to read a book in which a woman is completely capable of taking care of herself as well as others. Sure, she has help from others, but for the most part, Penny is a badass to admire. You definitely don’t want to get on her bad side.

I’m really hoping there is another book coming in this series, because I hated turning the last page of Book 2. The ending leaves you hanging, wondering what is going to become of Penny and of the world. Will the zombie virus ever be brought under control? Will Penny ever be cured?

I must know!


Review by Sheri White

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I’ll say this up front - James is a good friend of mine. The horror community is relatively small; a lot of us are friends or at least know of each other. And since James and I are friends, he knows me pretty well, and knows that I am honest in my reviews of fellow writers. And I can honestly say that The Wicked KICKS ASS.

The word going around on this book is that hearkens back to the 80s, when horror was found on paperback racks in any grocery or drug store. You know the ones - they pretty much all had black covers and lurid pictures that had nothing to do with the story inside. I have quite a collection of them myself.

James has a love of those old paperbacks and it shows in The Wicked, not only in the story, but in the cover as well. The cover is black, of course, but the creepy picture on the front does match the story. The cover also looks weathered and stressed, like an 80s book you’d find in a used bookstore. It’s so convincing that I was irritated at first, thinking Amazon had sent me a used copy. It didn’t help that there is a sticker on the back that I thought was real as well. The book is put together perfectly.

So what’s on the inside? An amazing, creepy story of an ancient demon named Moloch that wants the souls of the people who live in the town of Morganville, North Carolina. It starts with a fire that takes the lives of the children who live in Heller Home. The demon’s influence spreads to the entire town, seducing citizens into performing acts of murder and perversion.

The Little family have recently moved to Morganville from New York City of a violent incident almost tears them apart. They are determined to put their lives back together and become a whole family again, but find themselves caught up in Moloch’s evil. Will David Little be able to fight Moloch and save his family?

The Wicked is a lot of fun. It’s creepy, gory, completely inappropriate at times, and just an all-around rollicking read. It will make your jaw drop and your body cringe. You won’t be able to put it down until the very end, and then you will be disappointed that there is no more. But don’t despair quite yet - there are a few fun goodies in the pages after the story.

I also really enjoyed the various references to the horror community - I won’t spoil anything, but if you read a lot of small-press horror, you’ll get a kick out of them like I did.

And whatever you do, don’t skip over the introduction by Mark Allan Gunnells. His love of 80s horror and of The Wicked is evident in his essay.

I have read several of James’s books and stories, and I have never been disappointed. The Wicked is one of his best, and I think it will give James the recognition he deserves, not only in horror, but as a great writer in general.


Review by Sheri White