Everything Else

Review The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Screenshot

The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a murder mystery by Stuart Turton. Or is it? Is it actually a science fiction story set in the past where a murder has occurred? Or is it a race against time to reveal all the deceit and lies underpinning both the mystery and the science fiction story? Whatever it is, it’s a phenomenal novel.

A man wakes up in a forest unaware of who he is and what he’s doing. He shouts a name, one word that is his only connection to his past. Upon finding a nearby house, the man discovers he’s Sebastian Bell, a doctor living in the early twentieth century. Sebastian was assaulted the prior night.

Before the day is over, he’s told he isn’t, in fact, really Sebastian Bell, but inhabiting his body. He is truly Adrian Bishop who will inhabit eight people in the next eight days for one purpose – to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. It’s Evelyn’s homecoming, and family and friends have gathered to welcome her back. Or have they? Everyone seems on edge, grumpy, and a bit ruthless. To make matters worse, not only is Adrian trying to solve Evelyn’s murder, a killer is after him as well.

This is the best book I’ve read from a major publisher all year. Normally, a book of this size would take me at least two weeks to read it. I read it in three days. What fascinated me was how each chapter was a game changer. The reveals kept coming, indicating the complexity of the plot. And yet, the novel is never so complex that it leaves the reader lost.

If you like murder mysteries set in an old English estate filled with a sordid cast of characters, you’re in luck. If you enjoyed the T.V. show Quantum Leap but wanted the main character to jump into a really twisted setup somewhere far in the past, you’re also in luck. Lastly, if you like the concept of Groundhog Day but want it done in something other than the romance or horror genre, guess what? You, too, are in luck.

Every novel’s premise is really about drawing you into a character’s life to explore larger themes. One question I had before I read this was who was Adrian Bishop and why was he trapped in this situation? I expected to find out at the beginning. Sorry, readers, you won’t find it there. What you will find is Adrian learns quickly to distrust nearly everyone. You also discover that when Adrian inhabits one of the characters and is decent to the people around him, they start to become better or share their brokenness with him. The powerful question of whether we’re the people we are by destiny or choice is threaded through most of the book.

One last note. I must debate some of the negative reviews on this novel about the premise not working. In my opinion, they didn’t read carefully enough. Not only do I think it works, I think the heart of the idea all wrapped up in “a day without consequences” is brilliant. This is a great theme for a mystery.

Mystery fans who like science fiction, this is a must-buy. Science fiction fans who dabble with a mystery from time to time should also buy it. Everyone else who wants a non-linear tour de force, give it a try. If nothing else, you’ll find out how Evelyn Hardcastle endured a half death.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CP8YXH3

Everything Else

Review of Oct Society Season Two

Cover October Society 2

Let’s all say it together. “The second in a trilogy is the hardest.” The second in a trilogy must contend with the success of the first, build upon it, twist it a new way, all without ticking off its readers. The Empire Strikes Back and The Godfather Part 2 are two seconds that pulled it off. But many do not.

Which brings us to The October Society Season Two.

The October Society Season One was spectacular. It had a solid selection of short stories with a fascinating framing story, all centered around Halloween. The book’s mysteries unfolded naturally, and the overall atmosphere captured the campfire (spooky) tone it needed. I looked forward to the second book and bought it immediately upon finishing the first.

The stories in Season Two, unfortunately, didn’t live up to their predecessor. The first three didn’t make much of an impression. The fourth, “The Unkindness of Ravens” was well-written with a twist I didn’t see coming. However, this offering felt it should have been in a different genre. The best of the tales appear at the end of the book, number five and six. They are “Those Quiet Bones” and “The Fear Factory.” Both were very different spooky tales and I appreciated their originality. “Bones,” in particular, felt like a campfire tale.

The strongest “story” in this collection, however, is the framing story. What is happening with the kids gathered to tell these creepy stories? A growing menace overshadows the proceedings. Charda, the most interesting character in the series, is rightly concerned. She serves as the reader’s avatar. Swapping Derek (in Season One) for Charda is one improvement from the first book. Besides a few love triangles that are obvious, the campfire scenes were gripping.

Unfortunately, the stories they tell make up the largest part of the book, and the first stories drag. The ending follows the traditional path of the second in a three series. The conclusion ends on a cliffhanger designed to make the reader insta-buy the next one. Tempting, but I can wait for next Halloween.

3.5 stars.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCQTM63J

Everything Else

Leap Year Story

Havok published my flash fiction called Leap Year on Tuesday, December 3. I’m grateful to them for presenting this story to the public. Havok has high standards, so every time I publish there, it’s a big deal.

Leap Year is the fulfillment of a few dreams I’ve had for a while. The first is, though I enjoy science fiction, I often find myself drawn to horror or fantasy in the speculative fiction realm. I read sci-fi and find it inspiring. Yet, my head has a sharp division between science fiction and the other two. For myself, the story must be grounded in science and be plausible in the future. Fantasy generally is implausible in the past or (for urban fantasy) present, and horror may be implausible. But not science fiction. Science fantasy, to me, is fantasy.

This fulfills my dream of publishing a science fiction piece, and I’m very happy to join the ranks of such writers. Though I wish the story had more grounding in the science, I did what I could. It entertains, it’s improbable, but not completely unbelievable.

The publication also satisfies a secondary goal of mine. I’ve finally brought to life an idea I’ve had for a long time. Over eight years ago, I had the idea of people going back in time exactly one year. What changes would they make in that short of time? This story’s main character, Hudson, was the main protagonist in that idea. I had many other characters, but I first and foremost, I wanted to tell Hudson’s story.

And here it is.

I hope you reading Leap Year as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Everything Else

Review of The Stars Will Fall

Cover The Stars Will Fall

The Stars Will Fall is a collection of speculative fiction short stories by Brian Reindel. One eye-catching element of this book is the number of stories included, a whopping thirty-four. Not only do you have the staples of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, you also have sub-genres of fable, apocalyptic, cosmic horror, and others all contained in one book. For a speculative reader, you’d be hard-pressed to find a story that doesn’t cover your favorite genre.

Most of the stories are short, not quite flash fiction, but close. A variety of tones and themes are explored. In general, the tale’s tone matches the genre, so the fable is written in a matter-of-fact style. The author claims in the introduction there’s no hidden agenda, but clearly his aim is to entertain.

Each reviewer is biased, and I’m no different. In general, I preferred the science fiction entries. “The Backrooms,” “A Rocket Ride to Nowhere,” and “It’s Better Left Unsaid” all deserve mention. My favorite two were “One Billion Years in a Day” and “The Greatest Unknown.” The first is hard science-fiction that might very well happen one day. “The Greatest Unknown” is a wistful, excellent character study about our planet.

A few horror stories also topped my favorites list. In “Fair Weather Friend,” the plot and voice come together like elephant ears and carnival music to present one the scariest entries in the book. And “The Inheritance” is a study in how patterns repeat from generation to generation.

Both swords and sorcery and modern fantasy are represented. I prefer urban fantasy, which led me to rate “Address Unknown” as my favorite offering in the book. Solid endings are hard to write. The story pays off its clever idea in all the best ways possible. I’ll not forget this one for a while.

From sinking islands to people trying to avoid an alien incursion in northern Michigan to a place where overdue library books are a crime, The Stars Will Fall covers it all.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stars-Will-Fall-Collection-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B0BSCNJXHV

Everything Else

Review of Oct Society Season One

A group of masked children appear before a green-colored flame and tell scary stories. Each story reflects both the creepiness of the autumnal season as well as the preference of the narrators. Meanwhile, the identity of these storytellers and their purpose starts to crystalize.

Welcome to Christopher Robertson’s The October Society: Season One. This YA collection is a perfect Halloween read for both YA and “A” readers. It effectively captures the spooky side of Halloween, dabbling infrequently in gory horror. The idea of having different characters tell their stories, and having their offerings match their personalities, is likewise inspired.

Anthologies live and die by the number of above-par stories. One great story doesn’t erase a list of mediocre tales. I rated the stories on “the Halloween feel” rather than how scary they were. In other words, do they evoke the general amusement the holiday has to offer?

Six stories make up the collection. It’s odd that the first one is fantasy based—and in a meta-moment one of the characters calls that out—but it’s one of the better stories. Again, the “Cottage in the Woods” is not as scary as thrilling, but it’s a lurid fable for the season. Another story is about a man who buys a drive-in, hoping to profit on the nostalgia. His daughter, while helping, becomes stuck at “The Dead-End Drive In.” My favorite entry is the devil-masked tough girl’s. “The Harmless One” is tonally different from the others and certainly the most adult offering. Though not centered in Halloween trappings, it’s the most frightening.

The “Season One” refers to the novel’s point-of-view. It’s as if you were watching this unfold on television with an opening credits scene and commercial breaks. A continuing news story tantalizes with a story of its own. Again, it’s a hook that works in the novel’s favor. The other aspect is the narrators’ teasing between stories. You get to know the storytellers and relate to them. The humor in these sequences elevates the novel as well. This is not just about a selection of Halloween stories—extra points for that.

The October Society is an effective chiller for the season if you are looking for “the Halloween feels” and not R-rated gore. This takes a series like Goosebumps or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and ups the odds. This book is a definite add if you have a Halloween collection.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09H97CRQK

Everything Else

Review of Dark Harvest

Cover Dark Harvest

Norman Partridge’s Dark Harvest has all the familiar trappings of a Halloween horror story. Each year, an unnamed American town has a visit from a pumpkin-headed monster with a butcher’s knife on Halloween. In this novel, it’s 1963. If the kids stop the creature, they will receive their fill of candy. But Dark Harvest wants to turn all the traditions of Halloween inside out.

The October Boy (aka Sawtooth Jack and many other names) is a pumpkin-headed creature that rises on Halloween night and makes his way to the church to ring the bells. If he does, terrible things will happen to the town. To prevent it, the townspeople send out their teenage boys to confront and stop the monster. If a boy kills him, he’s regarded as the hero for that year, given a load of money, and sent forth from this dark corner of the world to live a successful life. This is the story on the surface, but far more sinister motives are at play.

The novel employs second-person point of view for some of the narrative—a rarity and often misused. Here, it works as it draws the reader in and helps them take on the persona of the children. The idea of Dark Harvest is also a unique twist on the entire “town held hostage by a creature” theme. Wrapping it around Halloween is inspired.

The novel is short but the pacing is well done. It draws the reader in using “you” as a character in the town, and then it shifts to people within the town. The seamless transition from second to third POV is masterful. The suspense early on, the slow unraveling of the plot, and the ambience of the night are all strong points.

I had approached the novel hoping it would be a Halloween classic to be read every year. While I enjoyed it, I likely won’t reread it again. First, I think this would’ve worked better as a novella. The amount of truly significant scenes could be compressed. Second, certain fundamental questions remain unanswered. A little mystery in a horror novel is acceptable; a lot of mystery feels like plot holes. Motivations went unanswered, and I didn’t quite understand how and why the town was trapped. Finally, the villain was uninspired. While despicable, the villain never really made me want to see their comeuppance.

This sounds like I didn’t enjoy Dark Harvest. I did, as much as any other horror novel I’ve read. But with the sentient scarecrow and Halloween night, I was hoping for more than what the novel had to offer. A good horror novel? Yes. A Halloween classic? A near miss.

Note: I also watched the movie on Amazon Prime. Movie people changed it significantly, and I’m not sure why. The changes made the movie far worse.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MT2EQA

Everything Else

Review of Episode Thirteen

Cover Episode Thirteen

Craig DiLouie’s Episode 13 is Ghost Hunters meets found footage as recorded in book form. Three paranormal researchers, one cameraperson, and one scientist explore a haunted house to determine the existence of ghosts. When it comes to the thirteenth episode, their ghost chasing series hits the jackpot—a place called the Foundation House. Foundation House is a secluded mansion where scientists and their subjects disappeared in 1972.

The researchers are made up of its leader and director (Matt) who actively believes in ghosts and wants to find out what’s on the other side. Claire, Matt’s wife, is a scientist who often debunks what the team finds. A budding researcher, Jessica is also an actress who isn’t sure she believes in the paranormal. The last two are Kevin, the technician, and Jake, their cameraman.

The first day is mostly uneventful as they set up and try to find a ghost. This assignment looks like a bust. On day two, however, they discover objects in a sealed room have moved around on their own. The house explodes with its secrets that night.

Telling any more of the plot is a spoiler. The book is written in epistolary style through journal entries, transcripts of video, daily shooting sheets, etc. This choice of style is what makes Episode 13 unique. The book’s other novelty is the direction it veers off into. In particular, when the science-only Claire encounters the supernatural before her eyes. She reacts in a startling way that leads the novel down an odd path.

Episode 13 isn’t as scary as it could be given the nature of how it’s written. First, the reader knows it happens in the past. And other than the journal entries, it’s hard to get to know the characters. It has some creative ideas which I find lacking in many horror novels. The novel succeeds in thrilling if not chilling.

The book’s pacing is its strength. I read nearly all of it in one sitting. It isn’t as long as it appears as some pages are less prose and more text messages and transcripts. The atmosphere at the beginning is spooky, and I enjoyed the characters, especially Matt and Claire.

Many of the reviews say this book turned into science fiction in the middle. I don’t agree. Since one of them is a scientist and lead character, the reader is treated to many scientific theories. The ending, however, is ambiguous enough to be interpreted in multiple ways.

Two elements of this story did it a disservice. When the ghosts started to reveal themselves, I was worried the team would “keep it under wraps.” This would make no sense to me in a television show that didn’t want to keep anything secret. But yes, this is what happened. The journal writing is another matter. At the start of the novel, having everyone on the show journal was a great idea. But near the end, as the situation grows more dire, people take a break to write down their thoughts. And the last journal entries (who writes them and why they write them) really stretches one’s suspension of disbelief. The author had to employ the mechanism to explain what happens at the conclusion, but it’s a painfully obvious device at that juncture.

Overall, Episode 13 is a solid novel for horror fans who don’t mind a bit of sci-fi jargon. Clever, maybe too much so, but worth a read.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZB6C8TV

Everything Else

Review of The Invisible Files

The Classic Monsters Series by Ye Olde Dragon Press starts with a classic monster and then twists the theme. This continues with The Invisible Files: Classic Monster Series #4. The twist must be a departure from the tried and true. For the Invisible Files anthology, The Invisible Man (or Woman) is the subject. Is the anthology about invisibility, a monster, or a combination of both?

The first story and the last are foundational on what the anthology is trying to achieve. Yet, they couldn’t be more different. In the initial entry named “Ghosts, Pizza, and other Comforts,” a girl is learning the ropes on her first job in a world with superheroes. This is a modest tale of friendship and acceptance with invisible shenanigans occurring to spice it up. In the last one, “The House of Hidden Faces (Or, The Invisible Landlord),” a cast-out group of people gather at a strange house with an invisible host. Being outside at night is dangerous, yet the owner of the house accepts them without charge, only work. This tale is larger in scale than all the others but just as personal.

In the middle of the book, we have two stories that highlight the magical whimsy of invisibility and its horror—a nice juxtaposition of the theme. In “To Unsee the Seen” by Michelle L. Levigne, the reader is treated to a taste of what invisibility hijinx a person may get up to in a fantasy world of animated armor and sentient breezes. In “The Experiment” by Deborah Cullins Smith, the narrative explores what happens if someone is tricked into becoming invisible, and the tragic consequences that may follow. “The Funeral Crashers” by Stoney M. Setzer continues the series in Sardis County where weird occurrences happen. Now, they have an invisible man legend. In “Justice Unseen,” Jordan Campbell explores a potential application of invisibility. And “Hidden in Plain Sight” by D. A. Randall puts a twist on what it means to be invisible (very creative).

Heartfelt stories exist here too. “The Invisible Boy” by Jessica A. Tanner explores how invisible we feel when we aren’t seen (more Ellison than Wells). “The First” by Rosemarie DiCristo and Pam Halter details a wild tale of family lost and regained. Very creative. And “Erwin” is cut from Alfred Hitchcock’s tapestry of suspense and shock—absorbing and hard to put down.

Returning to our question of is the anthology about invisibility, a monster, or a solid combination of both? Yes, yes, and definitely. The anthology is a combination of heart, horror, adventure, and—most importantly—relatable stories. You’ll want to turn invisible so you won’t be disturbed while reading this anthology.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH9K3622

Everything Else

Review of Thirteen Paths: A Halloween Anthology

Cover of Thirteen Paths

Many Halloween anthologies exist on the market, but most offerings are crafted by different authors. Other collections are written by a single author. It’s rare to find an anthology of multiple stories written by the same group of authors. For Thirteen Paths: A Halloween Anthology, a trio of authors pen thirteen different stories. Fortunately, this triad brings a consistent tone to the anthology as well as captures the spirit of the season.

Every anthology has a theme, and I review the theme as well as the plot and the writing. A story could be great, but if it’s a Halloween-themed anthology and the offering is about Christmas, it won’t rate high. And note that a Halloween story doesn’t have to be scary. All that is required is that Halloween is at its center, not window dressing.

That said, one story in this anthology stands tall against most Halloween stories I’ve read (in this anthology and elsewhere). “Unseasonable” is about trick-or-treaters going door to door in a sudden winter storm that knocks out the power. It’s off-beat, frightening, well-conceived, and smartly executed. This story brings the chills both in terms of terror and setting.

Another fine offering is “I Know a Place.” In this tale, three trick-or-treaters discover a neighborhood where no one goes for sweets, only to find out why. “The Tunnel” is a fine example of voice and has that ambiguity that keeps the reader glued to the page. “Good Horror” is a creepy little tale well-suited for a Creepshow segment.

A call out to the story “Thinking of You.” This tale isn’t terrifying at all. Yet, it is the best example of an entry that has Halloween in its bone marrow. I enjoyed this one.

A few other offerings are worth a read—”Next Stop Home,” “Timber and Stone,” “Film to Digital.” Another nice touch is each story has its own illustration, which is fantastic for an anthology. I did struggle identifying some of the images, however.

Overall, the anthology has the variety and creativity one associates with the thirty-first of October. If you love Halloween, this book is worth reading.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJMVBKLV

Everything Else

Review of The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter

Screenshot

A search on Beatrice Rappaccini brought this novel to my attention. It checked all the boxes of something I look for in a horror fantasy: collection of distinctive characters, strong women, and monsters. The fact that some of the monsters were strong women made me want to buy it immediately. Instead, I waited for the spooky season.

Theodora Goss’ novel brings together both Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde’s daughters; Hawthorne’s Beatrice Rappaccini, a girl who emits poison; a Wellsian Dr. Moreau creation, and one more character who I won’t reveal. Throw in Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, a prostitute-killing Jack-the-Ripper type, a secret society, and you have The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter.

The alchemist’s daughter is Mary Jekyll who is the novel’s protagonist. Though the book’s faux author is a different character in the novel, most of the point-of-view is from Mary. Mary’s dead mother has left behind a mysterious amount of money allocated to one “Hyde” at the Magdalene House. Mary hires Sherlock, hoping Hyde is the infamous Mr. Hyde. Mr. Hyde was her father’s associate, a man suspected of murder. Mary’s goal is to capture Hyde and collect the reward money. And this is where the novel takes its first “strange” turn.

Ms. Goss takes a popular theme in this time period—humankind messing around with biology—and uses it as a foundation to create a world of monsters. The general populace is unaware that “good” monsters are among them. Most of the plot describes how Mary discovers and gathers together the cavalcade of creatures that eventually becomes the Athena Club. This is all done in the context of investigating the murderer of four women in turn-of-the-century London. The ideas, settings, and characters are all well done. Most authentically callback to their literary origins, which is why the novel is so much fun.

Mary acts accordingly like Henry Jekyll. She’s a straight-laced den mother type. She takes on the mantle of responsibility. Mary is accompanied by a loyal housemaid and later, another servant. Dr. Watson is his usual stolid self. The rest of the Athena Club also act appropriately, including the one character I won’t mention (my personal favorite). Even minor characters from other novels seem to step out of their stories. Only slightly off was Holmes. He seemed a kinder Holmes than I remember, and the idea that he might be attracted to Mary never quite gelled.

One note on the writing that I’ve read in the reviews. A gimmick in the book inserts commentary asides that either engage or enrage readers—there seems to be no middle ground. At first, it’s hard to follow as you’re not sure of the identity of these narrative interlopers. As the novel progresses, the reader starts to learn who everyone is. I enjoyed the interruptions and thought the device was quite clever.

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter has fantasy, mystery, humor, and horror. An enjoyable romp of a read that gripped my attention while I read it.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYPZUI5