Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Gordon Place by Isaac Thorne is a spine-chilling tale of horror and spiteful spirits. Graham Gordon, the newest – and only – constable in Lost Hollow, is going home. For the first time in 20 years, he sets foot inside his long-abandoned family home, a place that doesn’t instill warmth or good feelings in him. Used by local teens over the years, there have been rumors of strange screams coming from the house. Town administrator Patsy Blankenship is meeting with Afia Afton, a news reporter whose father is a hate-crime victim. She wants to come up with a ghost story for Hallowe’en and Patsy thinks the Gordon place is just right. Bad move. The past and the present are about to collide with deadly consequences. Can Graham ever escape his family home? Will Afia get the story she really wants? Are both prepared for a fight with the spirit from hell? And can they both finally move on with their lives and put the past behind them?

The Gordon Place by Isaac Thorne is a great story. Isaac Thorne builds up the suspense gradually, writing in a way that draws the reader into the web. The descriptive nature of the story has you feeling you are really there, hearing every creak and echo of the past. The main protagonist has an interesting back story that is brought out throughout the plot as we learn more about the childhood abuses he suffered. All the characters are exceptionally well developed. The story is very well paced, full of detail and plenty of action to keep a reader hooked. This book will have you on the edge of your seat, unable to stop reading until you reach the end. It’s a clever mix of horror and supernatural, perfectly blended, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

Pivot by L.C. Barlow is the first book in the Jack Harper trilogy, a brilliant blend of mystery and horror. Jack Harper is born to a woman who can’t look after herself, let alone Jack. But then Cyrus Harper, a charismatic and enigmatic leader of a cult, takes her in after testing the young Jack’s worthiness. Jack gets a normal education in all subjects—literature, economics, history, and mathematics—thanks to Cyrus. But Jack also learns the unique skill of an assassin. With the help of Roland James, Cyrus transforms Jack into a powerful killing weapon. But Jack quickly learns that there is more to Cyrus’ world than he lets on. Living in the same house with Roland is an old magical creature, the same that is responsible for Roland’s resurrection and the magical things that Jack has witnessed. This creature only becomes tame in the presence of Cyrus’ red velvet box. Jack wants nothing more than to escape from Cyrus, who is very dangerous, and the opportunity comes in an encounter with the mysterious creature. Jack is about to receive a gift far stronger than anything Cyrus ever imagined, plus freedom from the cult.

I was hooked from the very start of the novel as the narrator describes the encounter between the seven-year-old Jack and Cyrus. Cyrus is an awe-inspiring character, with a presence that commands both fear and respect, and a charm that grabs the young protagonist in a mysterious way. The prose is very good and it gives the story a natural flow that makes it enjoyable and exciting. I loved the dialogues, the vivid descriptions, and the author’s ability to lay the emotions of the characters bare. The conflict is strong, embracing the different levels of the story—physical, emotional, and psychological. Pivot is well plotted and the author introduces twists that readers won’t see coming. L.C. Barlow takes readers on a perilous journey, crafting scenes that are emotionally charged and focused and creating characters that are both complex and real.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

No thanks to the military, the world became apocalyptic after an outbreak of Necro-Rabies, a neurotropic virus that turns people into zombies or ‘Cujos’. Twenty-one-year-old Rhonda Driscoll is a former hairstylist turned soldier and one of the few hundreds of survivors who take shelter at Fort Rocky Military Base, better known as Camp Deadnut. During a mission in her old hometown of Levendale, she encounters her undead fiance and soulmate, Brad Savini, and brings him back to base, much to Colonel Kenneth Driscoll’s dismay. Rhonda’s father hated Brad when he was alive; he hates him even more now that he’s a Cujo. Can true love prevail in a dead, largely zombified world?

With deadpan names like Camp Deadnut and Cujo, how could I not read Jeremy Wagner’s Rabid Heart for wit? Of course, there are some disturbing, gory and frightening moments, especially when it comes to unsavory characters that the protagonist has to face. However, wit does encapsulate the tone of the story without being overwhelming. The narrative is easily engaging and vivid. When Rhonda escapes from the base with Cujo-Brad in a Humvee, with AC/DC songs for their dangerous road trip, I couldn’t help but root for the odd couple. Rhonda personifies true love despite her mistakes. Along the way, they meet young Tyler and Ellen, adorable siblings who take care of Rhonda as much as she takes care of them. “Love is like zombies... it never dies”. I liked Wagner’s spin on The Walking Dead theme. The characters are memorable and the fast-paced plot is well thought out. The story concludes with a bittersweet but fitting ending. Overall, this zombie adventure is witty, thrilling and has heart.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

Are you ready to open your mind to the possibility that the weird and unexplained tales of folklore and legend could actually be true? This collection of three disturbing novellas in Horrors Of The Mind by H.E. Kline will make you ponder if the impossible is possible, if myth is fact. The first novella begins with The Dream, where we meet Lacy, a nine-year-old girl who dreads falling asleep because that is when the constant nightmares begin. She is transported to Auschwitz, and experiences the Holocaust first hand. In The Haunting of the Hockomock Swamp, there is an unexplained outbreak of horrific seizures among the children of a small town, where each one seems to be tormented by a native American Indian. Journalist Janie is sent to investigate but what she uncovers is far from a medical problem, and is connected to a significant time in American history. The third novella, Immolation, sees father Doug King innocently pick up a hitchhiker, which sets in motion a terrifying ordeal of bloodthirsty killer cats, including his own.

The author's writing style reminded me of Roald Dahl's novel Tales of the Unexpected, where the weird and wonderful are a possibility. This collection of stories is a masterful creation of twists and turns, building suspense and taking you on a roller coaster ride of chilling surprises. Each of the stories had strong characters that you could relate to. The historical and medical detail is well researched. The author knows how to trigger fear and dread in the reader; he can certainly draw you into the mystical world of the paranormal. There are spine-chilling details within each story that transport you into the characters' world. The characters are believable and three-dimensional. I loved the relationship between Janie and Alan in the second novella, as it gave some light relief from the suspense of the main plot.

Each of the three novellas was compelling for different reasons but each pondered the question 'what if?' What if these events were to happen? Immolation has to be my favourite of the three. The moment Doug picked up the hitchhiker, I felt that sense of dread that something terrible was going to happen and I was not disappointed in the slightest. These stories will play on your mind and you certainly want to read this book with all the lights on and check under the bed; you never know what could be lurking.

Reviewed by Lex Allen for Readers' Favorite

The Paradise Resort, an ultra-exclusive luxury retreat for the rich, located on a remote island, has lost communication with the outside world. Sam, the son of owner Landon Verger, is worried. Knowing that his father has many powerful enemies, he hires a professional to investigate the island. Mac is a former Special Forces officer, known for her prowess and success in dangerous and hot situations. She and her team of mercenaries accept the mission, believing it to be simple investigate and report action. She couldn't be further from the truth. What began as a simple mission quickly becomes the most desperate fight for survival they've ever faced and there's only one thing Mac is sure of; not everyone will get out alive.

The Last Resort by Matt Drabble is a horror thriller that is not only a fast page-turner, but it's also one of those rare treats that stays with you days after you've finished it. The action is palpable and non-stop; the characters (as in all great stories) are larger than life while remaining true to life. Mac is center stage through this adventure that pits her skills (look up MacGyver, the TV series and movie) against a zombie horde like none you've ever experienced before. Drabble has created a new breed of zombie, fascinating in their abilities and deadlier than any I've read about previously. The conclusion is conclusive but leaves a hint of more to come. Perfect! High energy, action, and horror gore make The Last Resort a must-read for fans of this genre and all readers who enjoy action-packed thrillers with strong female leads. I'm among the latter group and hopeful of the hinted sequel.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Master of the Forest is a thrilling work of horror fiction written for adults and penned by author Artyom Dereschuk. In this story set in Russia, a young man leaves his small town for the big city of Moscow, stumbling upon a unique opportunity to work on a Siberian expedition. Hired as a black digger, his job is to uncover ancient ivory from frozen mammoths, but our hero realizes that he has much more to lose than he thought once he finds himself out in the cold and the dark. Thousands of miles from home, what begins as a psychological struggle turns fully supernatural when rumors of a mythical beast that guards the forest start to come true.

Readers seeking a fresh twist on Bigfoot mythology will be delighted with this austere, noir-esque Siberian horror adventure. Artyom Dereschuk writes in an authentically Russian style, reminiscent of Tolstoy or Nabokov, but with a modern, urban feel that highlights the many shades of grey in the gritty life of a Russian laborer. The first person narration takes us deep into both character and action throughout the novel, developing a keen sense of eerie quiet and imminent dread. When the sudden, graphic moments occur they are beautifully jarring, shaking up the mood and inviting readers to keep turning pages. Horror, thriller and noir fans can all find things to love about the dark atmosphere, but I also really appreciated the cultural aspects of the black diggers and the attitudes of old versus new in Russia which were explored. All of this makes Master of the Forest a deep, engaging and truly terrifying horror read.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Mystery, the occult, adventure, and the supernatural are all melded into one fantastic story in The Last Odinian by Alec Arbogast. It’s a novel with a strong appeal to fans of urban fantasy. Guided by a telepathic message from his daughter, Edward Koenig comes to Pinemist Bay to find his family. In a town where nothing is what it seems, he knows his wife and daughter are in danger. Pinemist Bay has a shady past intrinsically linked to a pagan Scandinavian rite that has long been forgotten. Follow this character as he acquaints himself with a dangerous cult and navigates the less trodden paths of this mysterious town, risking the darkness that could swallow him. Can he confront the dark past of this town and still be same again? Will he be able to reconnect with his family and save them, with many evil eyes around him and strange happenings?

There is a lot to enjoy in this novel and what caught my attention is the meticulousness with which Alec Arbogast handles the setting. One gets the feeling that this is a story as much of a place as it is of the protagonist. The descriptions plunge the reader into the details of the woodlands, the strange topography, and the peculiarities of the city. The sense of mystery is so strong that it arouses the reader’s curiosity and builds the tension. I got hints of Norse mythology in the writing and it is skillfully woven into the language. The pacing is measured, neither too fast nor too slow, but it is the author’s ability to sustain the reader’s attention that makes the story stand out. The Last Odinian will grab hold of your attention if you love beautiful and descriptive prose.

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

Sixth grader Benny Cartwright tries to do the right thing when he suspects there is something wrong with his friend, Toby, but no one is prepared for what the problem really is in Demon King by Erik Henry Vick. Switching back and forth from the original incident in 1979 to the climax in 2007, the problems in Oneka Falls, NY, arise, grow worse and finally come to a breaking point.

Three children had been abducted by an ancient evil that thrived in the town and the culprit was never discovered. Each was seriously damaged emotionally by the incident and relied on various coping mechanisms to deal with their experiences. In the ‘present’, three strangers come together in the town to ultimately root out the evil and put an end to it as well as their own issues with the past. From the confines of a mental institution and the halls of a university, two men arrive in Oneka Falls, along with a mass murderer with ties to the evil forces behind the abductions and deaths. When the pieces fall into place for a showdown, the only question is whether there is any hope for good to prevail against such a strong and insidious presence.

Utter terror and spiraling demonic involvement drive the plot of Demon King by Erik Henry Vick through intense action and psychological turmoil. Extremely well written, with clearly defined characters and steady action with surprising twists and turns, Demon King is a novel that is impossible to put down. Gripping and intense are only two words to describe the effect of the story, but if horror is your pleasure, that is all you need to hear. Erik Henry Vick is certainly an author to fill you with nightmares. Fabulous story. I loved it!

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Agents of Shadow: The Keepers of White by Richard Crofton is book 1 of a horror series like no other. Megan Panco has moved to Lancaster, PA, to try to pick up her life after losing her mother. She has the perfect man, a strong belief in her faith, and is happy, as far as she can be. She has no idea that she is the key that the Agents of Shadow are looking for. The Agents of Shadow are a secret organization, using the dark arts to build up their wealth and power; they are a part of the very fabric of society, a part of every life and have no compunction about using whatever means they need for self-gain. The Dark Year is coming, and the agents are building enough power to rule humanity forever and it is up to Megan to stop them. How? By staying away from them, by not letting them capture her. Without Megan, there can be no Dark Year but is she strong enough to evade capture?

Wow! Agents of Shadow: The Keepers of White by Richard Crofton is some story! Richard Crofton has a real gift for telling a story and he has put it to good use here as he weaves a dark and terrifying tale, one that plays games with the mind. This is a story of good against evil, a story with an ingenious plot line and a ton of twists that are going to keep you guessing, right to the very end. The characters are an interesting bunch, each with their own story to tell and incredibly well developed. There is a lot of character building here, scene setting for the next book in the series, and I guarantee you will not put this down - you’ll be too afraid! This book will make you question everyone you meet – are they who they seem to be or are they also involved in a dark, secret cult! The descriptions bring the story to life and make you feel like you are there as it happens. The suspense is electrifying and I really can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

Siege At Hawthorn Lake (Murder On The Mountain) by Paul G Buckner is an exciting thriller about an extreme encounter with Cryptid creatures. Troy Turner is a writer and thought that the solitude of living in a quiet and secluded area would be the ideal place to relax and work. He bought several hundred acres and a beautiful two-storey cabin nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It is deer season, and two of his closest friends are eager to go hunting on his magnificent property. The morning after their arrival, they start out before sun up and go to their separate hunting stands. A storm front begins to move in and they decide to call it a day. As they gather their gear, the storm picks up, and in its wake something unprecedented happens. They are brutally attacked by a massive beast.

Stunned and injured, they become separated in the storm. Wounded and concerned for his friends, Troy takes his friend's Jeep and drives to town to get help. The storm escalates, causing the roads to become hazardous. Troy wrecks the Jeep and lies unconscious in the gathering snow. Someone driving by happens to see his vehicle and rescues him. While he is unconscious and in the hospital, one of his friends is found dead and the other one is missing. Troy is the prime suspect for the murder of his two friends. With the murderer being nonexistent, how can he prove his innocence?

Siege At Hawthorn Lake (Murder On The Mountain) by Paul G Buckner is an action-packed, mind-blowing thriller. This is an exciting and fast-paced novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. My attention was caught at the very beginning by the breathtaking description of the scenery; it was idyllic. It gave the story a hint of mystery, and I was holding my breath, just waiting for something to happen. Then the creature makes itself known, and I couldn't put the book down until I reached the final word. This is an enjoyable and stimulating novel, and I recommend it to those who love thrillers and have an interest in Cryptids. If you love stories about Bigfoot and Sasquatch, then you'll love this book!