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Recommend this book:
Darkness Below
Barbara Cottrell
2023 Silver Medal
330 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Reviewed by Melanie Kennedy for Readers' Favorite
Darkness Below by Barbara Cottrell is one of the best paranormal horror stories I’ve read in a while. Ellen Logan is a psychic. And where’s the best place for a psychic to gain higher learning but Miskatonic University? With its history of being built on the remnants of an insane asylum, it only makes sense that the university is dedicated to investigating the supernatural. A desperate plea from one of her fellow students forces Ellen into the most dangerous investigation of her life. Someone is trying to summon a monstrous entity to harness its power and will stop at nothing to get their way. With the help of her mysterious professor, uncle, and fellow psychics, Ellen must step up to the plate to save not only herself but potentially the whole world from the evil lurking below.
I absolutely loved Darkness Below. No words could do it justice, but I’ll try my best. It is so incredibly well-written and captivating. Barbara Cottrell has created a magnificent world steeped in art, emotions, and the supernatural. I loved her references to real art pieces and artists as I found myself Googling them and marveling at how beautiful their horror and absurdity could be – much like the Shadows of Miskatonic universe. I was so happy to read that Barbara will be continuing the series, as I need to read more about Ellen and her will-they-won’t-they relationship with a certain gentleman. I would highly recommend Darkness Below to anyone that wants to read a well-written, enticing story with fleshed-out characters and loads of suspense.
Darkness Below by Barbara Cottrell is one of the best paranormal horror stories I’ve read in a while. Ellen Logan is a psychic. And where’s the best place for a psychic to gain higher learning but Miskatonic University? With its history of being built on the remnants of an insane asylum, it only makes sense that the university is dedicated to investigating the supernatural. A desperate plea from one of her fellow students forces Ellen into the most dangerous investigation of her life. Someone is trying to summon a monstrous entity to harness its power and will stop at nothing to get their way. With the help of her mysterious professor, uncle, and fellow psychics, Ellen must step up to the plate to save not only herself but potentially the whole world from the evil lurking below.
I absolutely loved Darkness Below. No words could do it justice, but I’ll try my best. It is so incredibly well-written and captivating. Barbara Cottrell has created a magnificent world steeped in art, emotions, and the supernatural. I loved her references to real art pieces and artists as I found myself Googling them and marveling at how beautiful their horror and absurdity could be – much like the Shadows of Miskatonic universe. I was so happy to read that Barbara will be continuing the series, as I need to read more about Ellen and her will-they-won’t-they relationship with a certain gentleman. I would highly recommend Darkness Below to anyone that wants to read a well-written, enticing story with fleshed-out characters and loads of suspense.
Recommend this book:
Digger
Arjay Lewis
2023 Gold Medal
412 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Digger is a work of fiction penned by author Arjay Lewis in the horror, thriller, and mystery subgenres. It is best suited to the mature adult reading audience for its dark storytelling and monstrous themes. In this spine-tingling work, we find ourselves following African American journalist Joshua Bennet as he quits everything he’s ever known to set off on a quest into his late father’s death and tales of the undead he used to talk about. A search for a legendary gravedigger takes our investigative hero into a dangerous battle where monsters of unimaginable terror await him and all those unlucky enough to be caught up in the quest.
Author Arjay Lewis blends supernatural horror with psychological thriller elements incredibly well to deliver a double dose of atmosphere and suspense from cover to cover. I was enraptured from the earliest moments of the work by the nightmarish promises of the legends and tall tales, and the ensuing journey of mystery and discovery delivers on every chilling promise. As one should expect from a horror novel, the descriptive talent of the author is vivid and visceral, giving readers a multi-sensory experience to really put us in Joshua’s shoes as he experiences sudden twists and horrible turns whilst the ultimate fight for survival storms into being all around him. I really enjoyed the quiet moments, too, and the skillful ways in which dialogue and narrative keep you involved and looking over your shoulder for the next attack. Overall, if you’re looking for a novel to keep you awake at night for a week after reading it, I can highly recommend the dark delights of Digger as your next read.
Digger is a work of fiction penned by author Arjay Lewis in the horror, thriller, and mystery subgenres. It is best suited to the mature adult reading audience for its dark storytelling and monstrous themes. In this spine-tingling work, we find ourselves following African American journalist Joshua Bennet as he quits everything he’s ever known to set off on a quest into his late father’s death and tales of the undead he used to talk about. A search for a legendary gravedigger takes our investigative hero into a dangerous battle where monsters of unimaginable terror await him and all those unlucky enough to be caught up in the quest.
Author Arjay Lewis blends supernatural horror with psychological thriller elements incredibly well to deliver a double dose of atmosphere and suspense from cover to cover. I was enraptured from the earliest moments of the work by the nightmarish promises of the legends and tall tales, and the ensuing journey of mystery and discovery delivers on every chilling promise. As one should expect from a horror novel, the descriptive talent of the author is vivid and visceral, giving readers a multi-sensory experience to really put us in Joshua’s shoes as he experiences sudden twists and horrible turns whilst the ultimate fight for survival storms into being all around him. I really enjoyed the quiet moments, too, and the skillful ways in which dialogue and narrative keep you involved and looking over your shoulder for the next attack. Overall, if you’re looking for a novel to keep you awake at night for a week after reading it, I can highly recommend the dark delights of Digger as your next read.
Recommend this book:
Restoration
Sharon Mikeworth
2022 Finalist
269 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
Restoration by Sharon Mikeworth is a thriller/horror novel that will have you holding your breath until the end. Cliff Phillip’s world was shaken to its core when his wife Tricia left him for another man. Devastated by the end of his marriage and the loss of his job, Cliff packed his bags, booked a cabin in the Blue Ridge mountains, and took that as an opportunity to rethink and restart his life. At first, everything was perfect, until it wasn’t. It didn’t take too long for Cliff to witness something strange in the lake. As if the strange movement and lights in the lake weren’t enough, people started to disappear. Before he knew it, Cliff was stuck in a horrible circle of suspicion, tragic accidents, and intense drama that he could not shake off. Everything led back to the lake and the mystery it held in its depth. It would take everything Cliff had to solve the mystery and get out of the Blue Ridge mountains alive.
Reading Restoration was a roller coaster ride with unending twists and turns. The story had me hooked from the very beginning, and it has a lot to do with Cliff. Cliff had my sympathies right from the start, and I was interested in how he would reshape his life after Tricia’s betrayal. However, author Sharon Mikeworth added in just the right twists and turns to make the story interesting. The mystery about what lived beneath the lake, why people started to disappear, and why they were targeted had me hooked. The descriptions were goosebump-inducing, the imagery created was perfect, and the dialogues were fantastic. There was never a moment when I felt something was missing. I was looking for answers and hoping that Cliff got those answers before it was too late. Fans of Joe Hill will enjoy this novel. Entertaining and terrifying at the same time!
Restoration by Sharon Mikeworth is a thriller/horror novel that will have you holding your breath until the end. Cliff Phillip’s world was shaken to its core when his wife Tricia left him for another man. Devastated by the end of his marriage and the loss of his job, Cliff packed his bags, booked a cabin in the Blue Ridge mountains, and took that as an opportunity to rethink and restart his life. At first, everything was perfect, until it wasn’t. It didn’t take too long for Cliff to witness something strange in the lake. As if the strange movement and lights in the lake weren’t enough, people started to disappear. Before he knew it, Cliff was stuck in a horrible circle of suspicion, tragic accidents, and intense drama that he could not shake off. Everything led back to the lake and the mystery it held in its depth. It would take everything Cliff had to solve the mystery and get out of the Blue Ridge mountains alive.
Reading Restoration was a roller coaster ride with unending twists and turns. The story had me hooked from the very beginning, and it has a lot to do with Cliff. Cliff had my sympathies right from the start, and I was interested in how he would reshape his life after Tricia’s betrayal. However, author Sharon Mikeworth added in just the right twists and turns to make the story interesting. The mystery about what lived beneath the lake, why people started to disappear, and why they were targeted had me hooked. The descriptions were goosebump-inducing, the imagery created was perfect, and the dialogues were fantastic. There was never a moment when I felt something was missing. I was looking for answers and hoping that Cliff got those answers before it was too late. Fans of Joe Hill will enjoy this novel. Entertaining and terrifying at the same time!
Recommend this book:
Bloodline Gypsy
Jook and Gypsies, Vol. 1
Shirley A. Martin
2022 Finalist
436 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Bloodline Gypsy by Shirley A. Martin is the first volume in the Jook and Gypsies series, following Susannah after her mother and grandparents die, leaving her in the custody of a father she's never met. She thought this would be a fresh start for her, but when she meets her stepmother, she realizes she has to give up everything she was just to fit in with her new family. Keeping her gift of healing secret, Susannah manages to please her new parents, but when she meets a mysterious neighbor, her life starts looking up. That is until she learns she's part of an ancient and secret group of people, with a dangerous werewolf hunting her. With few options, and feelings she doesn't quite understand, she's forced to trust two strangers who claim to be protecting her.
I don't really read novels that are classified as 'horror,' but the premise was intriguing and I couldn't resist seeing what adventure Bloodline Gypsy would have in store. It was worth it! Bloodline Gypsy is well-written, creative, unique, and frightening. A fast-paced page turner that you can't stop reading until you reach the end. Bloodline Gypsy is grotesque horror at its finest, with a villainous werewolf that is truly disturbing, and it will leave you anxious for Susannah and her friends' safety. Shirley A. Martin craftily weaves rich mythology into a modern setting, immersing you in the story. Susannah is a strong heroine who garners much sympathy when she's forced to leave herself behind because her stepmother is in every way 'wicked.' There's the classic spin of her meeting mysterious strangers and belonging to an ancient mythology, but Martin takes a unique approach to the idea of a werewolf that leaves you guessing, and wanting more.
Bloodline Gypsy by Shirley A. Martin is the first volume in the Jook and Gypsies series, following Susannah after her mother and grandparents die, leaving her in the custody of a father she's never met. She thought this would be a fresh start for her, but when she meets her stepmother, she realizes she has to give up everything she was just to fit in with her new family. Keeping her gift of healing secret, Susannah manages to please her new parents, but when she meets a mysterious neighbor, her life starts looking up. That is until she learns she's part of an ancient and secret group of people, with a dangerous werewolf hunting her. With few options, and feelings she doesn't quite understand, she's forced to trust two strangers who claim to be protecting her.
I don't really read novels that are classified as 'horror,' but the premise was intriguing and I couldn't resist seeing what adventure Bloodline Gypsy would have in store. It was worth it! Bloodline Gypsy is well-written, creative, unique, and frightening. A fast-paced page turner that you can't stop reading until you reach the end. Bloodline Gypsy is grotesque horror at its finest, with a villainous werewolf that is truly disturbing, and it will leave you anxious for Susannah and her friends' safety. Shirley A. Martin craftily weaves rich mythology into a modern setting, immersing you in the story. Susannah is a strong heroine who garners much sympathy when she's forced to leave herself behind because her stepmother is in every way 'wicked.' There's the classic spin of her meeting mysterious strangers and belonging to an ancient mythology, but Martin takes a unique approach to the idea of a werewolf that leaves you guessing, and wanting more.
Recommend this book:
The Tooth Fairy
Davide Tarsitano
2022 Honorable Mention
278 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Reviewed by Ankita Shukla for Readers' Favorite
If the idea of a tooth fairy warms your heart, then Davide Tarsitano's psychological thriller The Tooth Fairy will replace the feeling with a biting cold sensation that will haunt you for a long time. When Johnny Hawk caught his wife cheating on him, it triggered something inside him: the need to escape from everything. Pushing aside all rational and practical thoughts, he decided to quit his business and move far away. However, his escape led him to Wendy, a stunning dentist, albeit disturbed beyond his wildest imagination. From the first moment he laid eyes on her, he was smitten. As for Wendy, their encounter awakened an evil side of her that only knew cruelty, torture, and all things sadistic.
Even though The Tooth Fairy is Davide Tarsitano's debut novel, the narration shows the panache of a seasoned author. The story goes back and forth between different timelines, past and present, but the plot never gets confusing. Each character, whether a side player or main protagonist, has a unique personality and a backstory to help build a connection with them. An excellent psychological thriller is one in which readers are sitting in anticipation. They want to know more about this complex character whose mind keeps switching gears. The scenes of sexual abuse, though not too graphic, may disturb some readers. By creating an engaging thriller with relatable characters that readers will care about, Tarsitano has given fans of psychological thrillers a compulsive read. I highly recommend this book and challenge readers to dare put it down before finishing it.
If the idea of a tooth fairy warms your heart, then Davide Tarsitano's psychological thriller The Tooth Fairy will replace the feeling with a biting cold sensation that will haunt you for a long time. When Johnny Hawk caught his wife cheating on him, it triggered something inside him: the need to escape from everything. Pushing aside all rational and practical thoughts, he decided to quit his business and move far away. However, his escape led him to Wendy, a stunning dentist, albeit disturbed beyond his wildest imagination. From the first moment he laid eyes on her, he was smitten. As for Wendy, their encounter awakened an evil side of her that only knew cruelty, torture, and all things sadistic.
Even though The Tooth Fairy is Davide Tarsitano's debut novel, the narration shows the panache of a seasoned author. The story goes back and forth between different timelines, past and present, but the plot never gets confusing. Each character, whether a side player or main protagonist, has a unique personality and a backstory to help build a connection with them. An excellent psychological thriller is one in which readers are sitting in anticipation. They want to know more about this complex character whose mind keeps switching gears. The scenes of sexual abuse, though not too graphic, may disturb some readers. By creating an engaging thriller with relatable characters that readers will care about, Tarsitano has given fans of psychological thrillers a compulsive read. I highly recommend this book and challenge readers to dare put it down before finishing it.
Recommend this book:
Razormouth
A Novel of Blood in the Sea
Howard Butcher
2022 Silver Medal
482 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
Razormouth by Howard Butcher is 'A Novel of Blood in the Sea.' It’s 1984 and Seabrook and Aja are living in the Bimini Islands, renting a house overlooking a beautiful lagoon as they carry out their marine biology work. Suspecting they are onto a new species of predator, they double down their efforts but, just as they are almost done, they are interrupted by a scarred, earless man with gunshot wounds. Soon, a Colombian cartel has them in their sights, searching for the man and $50 million in missing dollars. When Aja is abducted, it’s up to Seabrook to try to save her. They have their undying love and their vast knowledge of the ocean on their side but can Aja escape the clutches of one of the most bloodthirsty cartels in history? Across land and sea, Aja and Seabrook are embroiled in the fight of their lives.
Razormouth by Howard Butcher is a fascinating, terrifying tale of predators – human and animal. It starts off slowly, setting the scene and building the tension, readying the reader for the suspense and terror that follows. A unique tale, it would do well as a movie but I suspect much of the story would be lost. The author has a way with words, with descriptive prose drawing you right into the story and making you feel you are there. Heart-pounding, nail-biting scenes follow in fast succession, with a great mix of different characters, some of them pretty scary. The new sea creature they discover, dubbed the Razormouth, puts me in mind of several horror films and the descriptions of that and the other sea creatures are detailed, making them as much characters of the story as the human characters. The ending is surprising, one you won't see coming in this thrilling tale that will keep you reading all the way through.
Razormouth by Howard Butcher is 'A Novel of Blood in the Sea.' It’s 1984 and Seabrook and Aja are living in the Bimini Islands, renting a house overlooking a beautiful lagoon as they carry out their marine biology work. Suspecting they are onto a new species of predator, they double down their efforts but, just as they are almost done, they are interrupted by a scarred, earless man with gunshot wounds. Soon, a Colombian cartel has them in their sights, searching for the man and $50 million in missing dollars. When Aja is abducted, it’s up to Seabrook to try to save her. They have their undying love and their vast knowledge of the ocean on their side but can Aja escape the clutches of one of the most bloodthirsty cartels in history? Across land and sea, Aja and Seabrook are embroiled in the fight of their lives.
Razormouth by Howard Butcher is a fascinating, terrifying tale of predators – human and animal. It starts off slowly, setting the scene and building the tension, readying the reader for the suspense and terror that follows. A unique tale, it would do well as a movie but I suspect much of the story would be lost. The author has a way with words, with descriptive prose drawing you right into the story and making you feel you are there. Heart-pounding, nail-biting scenes follow in fast succession, with a great mix of different characters, some of them pretty scary. The new sea creature they discover, dubbed the Razormouth, puts me in mind of several horror films and the descriptions of that and the other sea creatures are detailed, making them as much characters of the story as the human characters. The ending is surprising, one you won't see coming in this thrilling tale that will keep you reading all the way through.
Recommend this book:
Pool Man
Dan McDowell
2022 Gold Medal
187 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Pool Man is a psychological thriller/horror novel written by Dan McDowell. It's the year 1991. Greg Preakle, a one-armed pool man working at The Oak Hollow Hotel, has his life turned upside down after finding a dead body floating in the hotel pool. Jobless and broke, Greg's desperation leads him to participate in an outlandish and bloody cable quiz show called Twisted Hacks. This leads to a bizarre chain of events that Greg could never have anticipated. He joins the West Riverton High School as a janitor working for the slug-obsessed Principal John Fatts. But everything is not as it seems. Why is the basement off-limits? What's the deal with the creepy Dr. Carl Hicks? As Greg slowly acclimates himself to the oddities of the school, dead bodies start piling up whenever Greg is in the vicinity.
If surreal psychological thriller/horror is your jam, you'll have a blast with Pool Man. Filled with suspense, intrigue, and nail-biting thrills, Dan McDowell's uniquely twisted tale hooks you in from the get-go and refuses to let go until the end. The narrative switches timelines every now and then, creating an atmosphere filled with tension and dread that will have readers on the edge of their seats. I found the plot completely unpredictable. After the midway point, you find yourself trying to guess what's going to happen next, only to have the rug pulled out from under you. The eccentric characters keep you engaged with their idiosyncratic personas and odd behaviors. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.
Pool Man is a psychological thriller/horror novel written by Dan McDowell. It's the year 1991. Greg Preakle, a one-armed pool man working at The Oak Hollow Hotel, has his life turned upside down after finding a dead body floating in the hotel pool. Jobless and broke, Greg's desperation leads him to participate in an outlandish and bloody cable quiz show called Twisted Hacks. This leads to a bizarre chain of events that Greg could never have anticipated. He joins the West Riverton High School as a janitor working for the slug-obsessed Principal John Fatts. But everything is not as it seems. Why is the basement off-limits? What's the deal with the creepy Dr. Carl Hicks? As Greg slowly acclimates himself to the oddities of the school, dead bodies start piling up whenever Greg is in the vicinity.
If surreal psychological thriller/horror is your jam, you'll have a blast with Pool Man. Filled with suspense, intrigue, and nail-biting thrills, Dan McDowell's uniquely twisted tale hooks you in from the get-go and refuses to let go until the end. The narrative switches timelines every now and then, creating an atmosphere filled with tension and dread that will have readers on the edge of their seats. I found the plot completely unpredictable. After the midway point, you find yourself trying to guess what's going to happen next, only to have the rug pulled out from under you. The eccentric characters keep you engaged with their idiosyncratic personas and odd behaviors. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.
Recommend this book:
Soul Seeker
Gehenna
Kaylin McFarren
2021 Finalist
393 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite
Kaylin McFarren presents Soul Seeker, an urban paranormal romance adventure that delves into the cross-political world of humans, souls, angels, and demons. Crighton Daemonium is a highly-skilled soul collector working for the big boss himself, Lucifer. Crighton torments his human target, Benjamin Poe, as well as his family, but Poe exhausts all means to fight back and protect his son. But demons are cunningly deceptive, and Poe is tricked into committing a murder that merits his execution. Crighton continues to go about his business collecting souls until he meets the angel Ariel that will put his true nature to the test. And then there is the Sovereign Sector, a privately held organization of rogue scientists whose intelligence and skillsets include advanced technology that allows them to battle angels and demons in the spirit realm—and Crichton finds himself at their mercy.
Soul Seeker takes you to a different world—an imagined, detailed spiritual world of opposing forces that have been made popular by different Abrahamic faiths. McFarren throws in the element of super science to add to the excitement. Moreover, she picks up from where the apocryphal story of the angelic rebellion left off. It is fascinating how McFarren writes about demons as creatures whose desires are no different from mortals. Here you will see Crichton’s character put to the test as he walks with humans and falls in love with an angel. McFarren never fails to keep you turning pages as she makes it difficult for characters to achieve what they want. This is a story that deeply explores actions ruled by emotions. Soul Seeker exceeds expectations when it comes to paranormal fiction.
Kaylin McFarren presents Soul Seeker, an urban paranormal romance adventure that delves into the cross-political world of humans, souls, angels, and demons. Crighton Daemonium is a highly-skilled soul collector working for the big boss himself, Lucifer. Crighton torments his human target, Benjamin Poe, as well as his family, but Poe exhausts all means to fight back and protect his son. But demons are cunningly deceptive, and Poe is tricked into committing a murder that merits his execution. Crighton continues to go about his business collecting souls until he meets the angel Ariel that will put his true nature to the test. And then there is the Sovereign Sector, a privately held organization of rogue scientists whose intelligence and skillsets include advanced technology that allows them to battle angels and demons in the spirit realm—and Crichton finds himself at their mercy.
Soul Seeker takes you to a different world—an imagined, detailed spiritual world of opposing forces that have been made popular by different Abrahamic faiths. McFarren throws in the element of super science to add to the excitement. Moreover, she picks up from where the apocryphal story of the angelic rebellion left off. It is fascinating how McFarren writes about demons as creatures whose desires are no different from mortals. Here you will see Crichton’s character put to the test as he walks with humans and falls in love with an angel. McFarren never fails to keep you turning pages as she makes it difficult for characters to achieve what they want. This is a story that deeply explores actions ruled by emotions. Soul Seeker exceeds expectations when it comes to paranormal fiction.
Recommend this book:
The Covenant of Wickersham Hollow
An Occult Horor Thriller
Thomas A. Bradley
2021 Honorable Mention
354 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
The Covenant of Wickersham Hollow by Thomas A. Bradley is an occult horror thriller. Annabel and Brian have lived their whole lives in the town, and they really should have known the history behind the old Wickersham place before they decided to buy it. Behind its façade hides a horrific secret dating back to 1697. On All Hallows Eve, a deal was struck. A deal was forged in the fires of hell, and now it waits, hiding in the shadows. Waiting for the next soul to arrive. Waiting for Annabel. What happened to the seven teenagers who thought it would be fun to spend the night there all those years ago? Will Annabel be the one to finally cleanse the house or just another victim?
The Covenant of Wickersham Hollow is a spooky, spine-tingling read that will stay with readers for a long time. The story flicks between timelines, giving us a history of the house and other events that have occurred there while guiding us through the present time. This is done particularly well by author Thomas A. Bradley, as you fall seamlessly between past and present, the story pulling you deeper in until you are fully immersed in the evil. The action doesn’t let up, the story is well-paced, and the characters are real people, easy to like and relate to, developed as the story unfolds before you. The plot contains lots of twists and turns and plenty of scares and thrills to keep you turning the pages. If you are looking for something different in this genre, or you just want a way to escape the real world for a while, this is the book for you.
The Covenant of Wickersham Hollow by Thomas A. Bradley is an occult horror thriller. Annabel and Brian have lived their whole lives in the town, and they really should have known the history behind the old Wickersham place before they decided to buy it. Behind its façade hides a horrific secret dating back to 1697. On All Hallows Eve, a deal was struck. A deal was forged in the fires of hell, and now it waits, hiding in the shadows. Waiting for the next soul to arrive. Waiting for Annabel. What happened to the seven teenagers who thought it would be fun to spend the night there all those years ago? Will Annabel be the one to finally cleanse the house or just another victim?
The Covenant of Wickersham Hollow is a spooky, spine-tingling read that will stay with readers for a long time. The story flicks between timelines, giving us a history of the house and other events that have occurred there while guiding us through the present time. This is done particularly well by author Thomas A. Bradley, as you fall seamlessly between past and present, the story pulling you deeper in until you are fully immersed in the evil. The action doesn’t let up, the story is well-paced, and the characters are real people, easy to like and relate to, developed as the story unfolds before you. The plot contains lots of twists and turns and plenty of scares and thrills to keep you turning the pages. If you are looking for something different in this genre, or you just want a way to escape the real world for a while, this is the book for you.
Recommend this book:
Mandala Mandela
R.J. Myles
2021 Silver Medal
312 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
Mandala Mandela by R.J. Myles is a novel that combines crime and horror to deliver a wonderful reading experience. The setting is the town of Starvation, Oregon. In this novel, six teenagers — Crantz, Glenda, Linda, Bobby, Judy, and Luther — meet and set out on an adventure to Pricket’s Barn, a barn that had something unique for each of the teenagers. When the local farmer, Fred Schroder, discovers a body in the barn, he is alarmed. But then there is something more shocking: all six teenagers have been murdered. But by who? While Joseph’s guilt is accepted, Fred faces second-degree murder. The town hurries to get back to normal. But in the second part of the story, Richard John Myles returns home for his uncle’s funeral after twenty years away. But who is John Myles and what is his connection to the murder of the six teenagers?
R.J. Myles’ Mandala Mandela is a suspenseful novel with a wonderful plot. The plot is twisty and it is hard to guess what happens next. The story begins with a wonderful description of the town of Starvation, Oregon, with the morning shining down. The “contented big-bellied farmers” love the town and never shy away from telling curious passersby how the town received its name. As the story progresses, the reader gets a strong image of this little town that has a life of its own. The characters are well-developed and real. I loved how the author writes mystery into the story, making the reader wonder if the right person is held responsible for the crime. Mandala Mandela is written in wonderful prose — descriptive and laden with strong imagery — and it features a crime that rocks the tranquil life of a small rural community. It is gripping and entertaining.
Mandala Mandela by R.J. Myles is a novel that combines crime and horror to deliver a wonderful reading experience. The setting is the town of Starvation, Oregon. In this novel, six teenagers — Crantz, Glenda, Linda, Bobby, Judy, and Luther — meet and set out on an adventure to Pricket’s Barn, a barn that had something unique for each of the teenagers. When the local farmer, Fred Schroder, discovers a body in the barn, he is alarmed. But then there is something more shocking: all six teenagers have been murdered. But by who? While Joseph’s guilt is accepted, Fred faces second-degree murder. The town hurries to get back to normal. But in the second part of the story, Richard John Myles returns home for his uncle’s funeral after twenty years away. But who is John Myles and what is his connection to the murder of the six teenagers?
R.J. Myles’ Mandala Mandela is a suspenseful novel with a wonderful plot. The plot is twisty and it is hard to guess what happens next. The story begins with a wonderful description of the town of Starvation, Oregon, with the morning shining down. The “contented big-bellied farmers” love the town and never shy away from telling curious passersby how the town received its name. As the story progresses, the reader gets a strong image of this little town that has a life of its own. The characters are well-developed and real. I loved how the author writes mystery into the story, making the reader wonder if the right person is held responsible for the crime. Mandala Mandela is written in wonderful prose — descriptive and laden with strong imagery — and it features a crime that rocks the tranquil life of a small rural community. It is gripping and entertaining.
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