Personal Demons (The Jake Helman Files) by Gregory Lamberson

Personal Demons is the biggest little book you will ever read. There. I said it. This book is jam packed with that super hero quality that makes comic book geeks drool, yet peppered with enough of a good, old fashioned, crime novel - meets horror feel - just to make sure you know it's crossing genres. It also slices, dices and washes your car!!! All this and more!

Jake Helman, an elite member of the NY Special Homicide Task Force, is facing what most cops fear - an elusive serial killer. While investigating a series of sacrificial killings being doled out by a mysterious man known as The Cipher, some of Helman's personal demons come out to haunt him. After refusing to take a drug test and resigning from the force, he finds himself working as the director of security at Tower International - a highly controversial genetic engineering company. Under the guidance of the secretive and trailblazing Mr. Tower, the company is conducting experiments of an utterly unethical nature, in the name of human progress. After delving deeper into the company, Helman finds that the Tower Int. is doing more than just playing with science, they're playing with human souls.

Lamberson, the writer and director behind the cult favorite Slime City, delivers an incredible 1-2-punch with his second novel. Like I said before, this one has a very comic book/superhero feel with a dash of crime novel thrown in for good measure. The story itself is not too complicated, wickedly fast, and jammed with so much action that you barely have a chance to breathe while reading. I flew through this one in a day or two.

Lamberson's ability to kick your ass down to the pits of despair with the main character, and the bring you flying back up at a whim, are incredible. You really feel for Jake the whole time. Lamberson does get quite masochistic when it comes to the shit he puts Jake through, making for some very painful points in the book.

If I had a rating system here at Paperback Horror, you can be sure that this book would be somewhere up near the top. It's rare to find someone so excited about the genre who turns out to be not only a phenomenal writer, but also a deliciously dark dreamer, and someone who actually has to chops to bring you all over the emotional spectrum with his well placed words. Lamberson is seriously an author to watch, as he's poised to take the modern horror world by storm.

I really want to recommend this book to everyone who feels like they need something a little more interesting from their horror novels. And keep an eye out for the second installment of the Helman Files - Desperate Souls (coming October 1st, 2010) and Lamberson's werewolf novel - The Frenzy Way (June 1st, 2010), both by Medallion Press.

PBH

Dark Hollow by Brian Keene

Brian Keene is probably best known for giving zombies in books a new breath of life. One of the hardest working authors in modern Horror, Keene can also be called prolific - even considering the fact that his first Mass Market Paperback came out in 2004 - and he's only been on the scene since 1997. According to an interview with DF_Underground, as of this writing Keene has 10 more projects on the go and doesn't show any signs of slowing down.

In Dark Hollow, his 6th book for Leisure books, Keene goes much further into the unknown, sinking his teeth into your heart in a different way. This time he brings it to a more personal, somewhat semi-autobiographical level.

Adam Senft, a Mystery writer who lives in a little town with his wife and dog "Big Steve", is plagued by the bad memories of his wife's two miscarriages and the steady decline of their marital relationship. While on a walk through the local woods, he stumbles upon a very strange sight: one of his female neighbors fellating what seems to be a large statue of a Satyr. While watching this weird scene, the Satyr comes to life, throwing everything he knows into disarray. Soon some of the women from Senft's small town go missing - summoned by the mystical sounds of the Satyr's pipes. When Adam gets a group of men together to trek into the forest and save the women, they uncover a supernatural evil bent on entering our world and spreading it's seed.

First of all, I feel I have to say something about the huge pink elephant sitting here in the room with us. Who writes about evil Satyrs? Nobody. That takes balls to pull off, and Keene does it with panache, as the whole feel of the story is dark and oppressive.

Written in first person, Keene doesn't give the reader a choice by to feel Senft's inner turmoil while he quarrels with his (in)ability to procreate, and ultimately with the loss of power he feels during that time. That's basically what this book is about: The feeling that is accompanied with the loss of power to something stronger than you. And this Keene doles out mightily.

The characters in the book (besides Senft) are pretty lackluster, but one usually comes to expect that from Keene after a while. It's his imagination and the situations that he puts his characters in that steal the show and make Keene a main stay in modern horror. His descriptive ability is fruitful and oft times depraved, while still sticking mostly to realistic themes. Well...until he brings in Satyrs...

Now, given my praise for the book, there were a lot of people who really didn't like it. Here is one example. While not well written, and obviously as a slight to the author in question, the comments alone make it worth reading. Truly hilarious.

Also, Dark Hollow has been optioned and will become a film. News is pretty scant on the movie, but here are a few links to check out if you're interested. Imdb, Brian Keene's Homepage, and director Paul Campion's MySpace page. Whether this movie will actually see the light of day is still up in the air.

PBH.

The 13th by John Everson

John Everson's The 13th is a rambunctious foray into ritualistic sacrifice, sexual sadism, over the top violence, and campy slasher flick horror. This ain't your run of the mill horror novel, that's for sure.

Half a century ago, Castle House Lodge was the exclusive getaway destination of the rich and famous. But for years it has stood empty, looming in the shadows of Castle Point.

Now after 25 years of silence, the doors of the one-time resort will be open again, but this time to a different type of guest. Castle House is now a private asylum for pregnant women. When people start to disappear from a neighboring small town, suspicion falls upon the asylum and it's current owner, Dr. Rockford. What exactly is a world renowned MIT geneticist doing treating insane pregnant women, and are they really crazy?

When David Shale's girlfriend goes missing, he has to team up with small town cop Christy Sorensen in order to find out exactly what is going on. As they delve deeper into the history of the house and it's current owner, they uncover a plot that will lead them to the ritualistic sacrifice of 'the 13th', a ceremony meant bring something horrible into our world.

To merely say that this book is dripping wet with sexuality and titillation would be the biggest understatement of the century. The mixture of the above mentioned plot and Everson's ability to write incredibly graphic scenes designed to stir up sexual feelings alongside intense revulsion is incredible. His narrative feels so personal and candid that he might as well be sitting in a bar with you, telling this tale in the flesh. Unfortunately the characters are a little less realistic, and ultimately of the throwaway variety. It's Everson's well championed ability to make you cringe through the power of his words that rules the day.

In an interview with Omega's Apple, Everson stated that this novel was "...inspired a lot by the Euro-horror and grindhouse films of the seventies." This is the most spot-on description of the book that can be found. The 13th feels about as dirty and nasty as something like The Last House on the Left or I Spit on Your Grave, without going for a retro feel. This isn't the type of book that you'll feel comfortable reading in a public place. I know I wasn't, and that added all the more fun to the journey.

If you're a fan of Richard Laymon, Wrath James White, or Edward Lee, you might want to give Everson a try. He's more than capable of stepping up to the plate with those literary bad boys, and rightfully deserves a place in the higher echelon of the "extreme" horror genre.

Visit John Everson's website for updates on his new books, appearances, and to find out more about this multi-talented man.

PBH.

Pressure by Jeff Strand

A few weeks ago I reviewed Jeff Strand's Dweller here on Paperback Horror. I was incredibly happy to pronounce it the best book I've read in 2010, but now I'm faced with a personal dilemma. How do I describe this book without sounding like a total fan-boy?

Alex Fletcher has gotten into a bit of trouble after his family moved to a new town and finds himself shipped off to a boarding school as punishment for his crimes. There he meets two new friends, Peter and Jeremy, and also the quiet and strange Darren Rust. There's something a little off about Darren. For one, he enjoys cutting up dead things. And he's always sitting at his desk, furiously scribbling in his notebook or disappearing from the dorm room for hours late at night. Although their friendship doesn't happen overnight, Alex and Darren soon share an evening escape from the school grounds that turns out to be the beginning of something that will make an profound impression on both their lives, and on the lives of the people Alex loves - for better or worse.

Strand takes the reader through several different time periods as Alex meets his new friends, loses contact, and is ultimately reacquianted with them. A sense of foreboding runs through the entire book as you watch Alex being put into more and more difficult situations by the obviously unstable Darren. Darren's inability to cope with his friend's reluctance to join him as a "partner in crime" really sits heavy, and totally affects the way you might feel about him as the bad guy. He almost manages to become the most sympathetic character in the novel, making him one of the most impressive villains I've read to date.

Pressure was nominated in 2008 for the Bram Stoker awards in the category of best novel, but was beat by Stephen King's Lisey's Story. I have yet to read King's book, but it really must have been something earth shattering to have beaten this. Jeff Strand has yet to disappoint and I'm anxiously awaiting his future output.

PBH.

Visit Jeff Strand's website for news on upcoming releases, and to read his painfully hilarious unused Stoker acceptance speeches, along with some hilarious (and fictitious) tales of inappropriate behaviour by Stephen King.

Chainsaw Terror by Nick Blake

Chainsaw Terror, written by Shaun Hutson under the pen name Nick Blake, was published in 1984 by Star publishing. This book was originally published in the US, but was banned in the UK by W.H. Smith for the use of the word 'Chainsaw' in the title. It was published again by Star in 1985, heavily edited and under the title Come The Night.

The story revolves around Edward Briggs, who was witness to the brutal murder of his mother - by his father - who then immediately commits suicide right in front of him. Edward still lives in the same house with his sister who has become the subject of his infatuation. Edward doesn't like it when his sister goes out and wants her to stay with him forever in the cold, soundproof house...with him and his tools.

While perhaps not the most incredible piece of fiction in terms of writing style, Chainsaw Terror makes up for the areas in which it's lacking with lots of gore and nasty, brutal, disgusting kills. The campiness of this book alone makes it worth reading despite the predictable plotline. If you're a fan of slaughter-fest eighties horror a la Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Friday the 13th, you're sure to love this novel.

*Random bit of info: there are rumors of an uncut manuscript floating around the black market in Australia that depicts a scene involving a girl strapped to a work bench being defiled by a chainsaw. This alleged version, however, has never seen the light of day, and during email communication with Mr. Hutson he has stated that he knows of no such manuscript.

Succulent Prey by Wrath James White

Every once in a while you run into a book that just sits heavy on your psyche. As far as mass market paperback's go, I can actually count the ones that have done that to me on one hand. This book is one of them. Be warned, this book is just about as extreme as they come.

15 years ago Joseph Miles was abducted, tortured and almost killed by a pedophiliac serial murderer with the taste for human blood, but Joseph got away. He is the only survivor. Now Joseph has a problem - he is slowly turning into a serial killer. Convinced that his torturer passed a virus on to him that will eventually make him like his assailant, Joseph must find a cure before the woman he loves - the woman who is currently chained to his bed - becomes his next victim.

White's ability to write in an utterly disgusting and descriptive manner is incredible and far from common in the horror genre. The ghastly detail involved in every kill is expertly researched and truly gross and you'll be sure to feel the need for a shower after reading even only half of this book.

Thankfully, while we endure the foray into the actions of a psychopath, Succulent Prey does not just leave the reader with a rather bloody and slick mess of bodily fluid. White obviously went to great lengths to make sure that he not only succeeded in grossing out whomever was reading his book, but also in giving us a truly sympathetic killer. To think of Joseph Miles as "just a murderer" is impossible. Instead, White gave us a victim who is doing what he does in order to find a cure for his "disease".

Over all, Succulent Prey is NOT for the faint of heart. It depicts scenes of graphic torture, mutilation, and ultimately - death. If you're looking for something truly extreme, written by someone who has the chops to do so in an entertaining fashion, then this one is for you.

PBH

Books of Blood (Vol 1) by Clive Barker

Clive Barker's Books Of Blood have, since their publication between the years of 1984 - 1986, remained the hallmark of dark fantasy and horror fiction. Upon their publication, Barker was made an overnight success, prompting Stephen King to herald him as an "important, exciting, and enormously talented writer".

Much has changed since then, but the stories contained in these books remain legendary in horror not only as a part of important/must read fiction, but in some cases film as well.

To view the complete list of stories contained in Volume One, visit Barker's Official Website. The series is available as standalone volumes, and as a two-book omnibus. Tonight, I've decided to give you a run down of some of my favorites from Book One.

Book 1 - To miss any of the stories in this book in particular would be a sin. From the very first line of The Book of Blood, we - the reader - know we're being taken on a journey to some place special. It's really a very simple line: "The Dead have highways." But it is one of the most effective ones in the history of horror. The story then follows a psychic researcher, Mary Florescu, who has hired a fake medium named Simon McNeal to investigate a supposedly haunted house. At first, he pretends to see visions, but soon thereafter the dead do start to visit him and attack carving their stories, purportedly contained in the rest of the book, into his skin.

Many more successful stories came out of this first volume including The Midnight Meat Train - which was turned into a movie in 2008, The Yattering and Jack - which shows Barker's more deviously funny side, Pig Blood Blues, and Sex, Death and Starshine, but it's the last story that truly steals the show.

As one of Barker's most fantastic stories to date, In the Hills, the Cities treats us to the ultra weird yet infinitely brutal story of two neighboring cities - Podujevo and Popolac - who tie together the bodies of the citizens of each respective city during a ritual that takes place every 10 years, in order to create two towering giants. Something goes wrong and the city of Podujevo collapses, killing thirty-eight thousand, seven hundred and sixty five residents and creating a ravine of their blood. The story follows two gay lovers - Mick and Judd - who are on a romantic weekend trip, as they find the remnants of the giant of Podujevo. What happens afterwards is something that truly has to be read in order to be believed.

Barker's ability to marry the brutal and the beautiful will never fail to enthrall even the most jaded of readers. When an author as talented as this is at the helm, one doesn't have a choice but to suspend his or her disbelief and blindly "follow the leader" into a dark and sometimes painful place within the walls of his imagination. And honestly, who could possibly be better to lead than Clive Barker?

PBH