People Live Still in Cashtown Corners by Tony Burgess Review

by Tony Burgess
ChiZine Publications
ISBN:978-1-926851-05-1
Review done by Dana Bell
Review Posted: 10/12/2010

A chilling and sometimes confusing fictional look into the mind of a mass murderer loosely based on an actual case. Mr. Clark, for no reason that he can fathom, goes on a killing spree in a small town. The first is someone he doesn't know and thankfully, the reader is spared the grisly details. The second is also a woman told in cold specifics. The third is simply shot inside his own car.

Fearing he is about to be caught after revealing is secret to his gas station employee; Bob flees through a cornfield where he experiences a type of 'rebirth'. After emerging on the other side he is ready to kill yet again. This time, his victims are a family living in an old Victorian house. The mother and grandmother are shot while preparing breakfast. He prowls the interior of their home and readies himself, although unwillingly, to murder the children when they come from school. When the deeds are done, he lays the bodies out in the ballroom cocooned in sleeping bags.

Later, guilt ridden, Bob fools himself into thinking one of the children survived his attempt. First he hears noises as if someone is walking around. Second, he finds one of the sleeping bags empty. Third, there is music and when he investigates he finds a damp towel in the bathroom. Fourth he has a conversation with her and apologizes for trying to shot her. She leaves for school and he disposes of the bodies of her family behind the house.

The delusion goes on for days. He calls the school to check on her and talks to teachers on how she's doing in class. He's told not well and how did she get that gash in her forehead? Also, she wasn't eating. He tries to feed her and blood comes out of her mouth. Eventually, he tires of her company and again, brutally, murders her.

Although a somewhat interesting account, there are many confusing aspects to the book. The wandering from subject to subject in the first chapter does not entice the reader to continue further. Once the story starts often the main character goes off on a tangent that seems to have nothing to do with main plot and doesn't really explain the motive or reason behind the killing spree.

Perhaps 'People still live in Cashtown Corners' makes a type of sense to those familiar with the original case, but the reviewer can not recommend this book to readers.

Dead The Ugly Beginning by T.W.Brown Review

by T.W.Brown
May December Publications
ISBN:978-0-9845372-0-4
Review done by Rob Walter
Review Posted: 10/12/2010

Dead The Ugly Beginning starts out with Steve who while lounging about gets a call from one of his friends who informs him that something nasty is going on. Steve turns on the television to see reports of people doing what he would watch with movies, eating each other, being zombies. Yet Steve does not believe it and falls asleep, waken later by the darkness and a strange noise he is soon to discover that it is not only the darkness he needs to worry about. This is only the beginning as several other characters come into play.

There is a lot of hardcore zombie action. Fans of this horror genre will not be disappointed in that. There are a lot of moments where reading this you will want to yell out 'watch out they are right there!'

However, this book falls a bit short in follow through. It jumps around a lot and at times very hard to follow on what character is doing what. In the beginning there is too much of little interludes of Steve's thoughts that after awhile distracts from reading on.

Overall the book as said has a lot of Zombie action and was fun to read those specific parts. If you can manage to stay through the book jumping around as I did, it maybe worth the read.

MonsterMatts Bad Monster Jokes Vol 1 Review

by Monster Matt Patterson
May December Publications
ISBN:978-0-9845372-3-5
Review Posted: 10/10/2010

I have always liked horror with humor. I think when people say it can't be done they are wrong. In this collection of jokes that not only include general horror, but horror icons and some science fiction as well, gives people a taste of what humor can be like.

This is a book in which some of the jokes are great, others make you groan and yet some you would have never thought of. However, MonsterMatt did. You will laugh at some of the strangest things combined you can think of. While other times you are rolling your eyes at what is an obvious answer to the joke given.

What is purely enjoyable about this book is that all ages can read it. Horror fans who need a break from the gore and scared writing they do or watch will be delighted to relax to these pages of sometimes dry humor. Kids who love jokes will love this book, but be warned they may repeat the jokes over and over to you, so you better read this book to know what to watch out for.

In the Meantime By Paul Tremblay Review

by Paul Tremblay
ChiZine Publications
ISBN:978-1-926851-06-8
Review Posted: 9/28/2010

In the Meantime is a collection of short stories by Paul Tremblay. The stories wind you in a twisted way, releasing you with a sense of relief. The stories are often in first person which some people find difficult to read. However, in these stories the heart of the matter is through these first person narrations. Often more than not when reading this collection a feeling of wonderment strikes.

The best short out of this collection is The Blog at the End of the World. It is an amazing story depicting different dates of a blog. Who doesn't read blogs these days? The girl named Becca takes you through her life, her trials and her most inner secrets. This story is a delight in so many ways.

The best thing about this collection is you don't grow tired of the stories. Each one is fresh and keeps you wanting to read more.

Stitched Up! An anthology of Stitched up Flesh Review

Edited by S.E.Cox and Nandy Ekle
House of Horror
ISBN:978-4461-7792-1
Review Posted: 9/23/2010

When one thinks of stitches we often think of either medical or quilting. Let's put some horror, some bizarre tales and you have Stitched Up! An anthology of Stitched up Flesh.

The anthology starts out with a strange little tale by Nate Burleigh called Quilty as Charged. A man talking to a sheriff because of weird things that had happened to him, causing limbs to be taken away, basically destroyed. Now what happens next is not only gross in its sense, but surprisingly good.

This particular story is just the beginning. The anthology takes you through a journey of the undead and even a poem at the end by Brain Rosenberger called The Bride wore Black that takes the reader into a very creepy state of mind making you want to look behind you.

What is the best part of this anthology is you are never bored with any one story. Yes, some are better than others, but you never have a dull moment. You even get some art in the beginning from some artists, Nick Rose for example, among others to give your eyes even more of a delight.

This anthology is a refreshing theme of horror anthologies out there. Worth picking up and reading over and over again.

Lies at the End of the World by Phil Woters Review

by Phil Wolters
Pill Hill Press
ISBN:978-1617060366
Review Posted: 9/12/2010

John Frank and his family prepared for everything:Y2k, solar paneling and supplies to last a long time. His father and mother now both dead, John had to fend for himself and that's when it came:the zombie attacks. He had a high fence, tons of supplies and then Rachel, a survivor he found while she drove her truck fast by.

The fall in love being stuck together in his house. They talked, they enjoyed each others company. Afterwords they begin they journey together, meeting others on the way.

Wolters did a fantastic job of describing the human soul during a time of crisis. He explains so well the very nature of the situations the characters go through in such brilliant and eloquent wording. It is a book that can be enjoyed any time. One that if you don't grab a copy now you will be sorry you missed out on such an amazing, different type of zombie story.

Comes the Dark by Patrick D' Orazio Review

by Patrick D' Orazio
Library of the Living Dead Press
ISBN:978-1453701287
Review Posted: 9/12/2010

It all happened in one day. Jeff Blaine witnesses his wife being attacked and chewed on by his next door neighbor. The horror makes him freeze for a moment forgetting what is currently going on, an infestation of zombies who are attacking everything and anything. His guilt overcomes him as he sees his wife's anniversary ring shine ever so slightly as she bleeds out. Jeff leaves his house killing along the way any undead he can find. At last he comes across another survivor, her name is Megan. Megan and Jeff start on an adventure of basic survival not only physical, but of their souls.

Comes the Dark is non-stop action. It feels as if you are watching a movie that you can't get up to go to the bathroom because you might miss something. D'Orazio, portrays the undead in the best light, hungry, vicious creatures with a destructive appetite.

When reading this story, one feels themselves rooting for Jeff and the survivors he comes in contact with, with out any doubt you feel their pain, their anger and their will to live.

The only part that was slow was the actual plot. It started out with action, action kept going, but for a sense of a real plot you needed to read a bit further into the story. However, readers will still be able to get a sense of the characters, even relate to them in feeling they may do the same if suck an attack were present.

Comes the Dark was an enjoyable read with much zombie action for any zombie fan.