Review: Hell House

4 stars. Oh my gosh!! LOL. I was not expecting so many nipples. But it's about time I finally read this classic - and it was absolutely perfect for spooky season. There's plenty of sexist bullshit in here, but I have to admit: I couldn't put it down. And the premise is pretty spectacular.

At the request of an aging millionaire, four investigators - a parapsychologist and his wife, a former actress turned medium, and another medium with a dark history tied to the estate - enter Hell House, a notorious mansion steeped in blood and legend. Each arrives with their own beliefs and methods, determined to uncover proof of life after death. But as their weeklong investigation unfolds, the line between science and the supernatural blurs, and soon they’re forced to question not only what haunts the house - but what haunts them.

I truly enjoyed so much about this book: the history of the house, the mystery at its center, the moments of insanity and fear. The writing is crisp and the pace is almost frantic at times. I think it will appeal to a lot of horror movie lovers; it is cinematic and vivid. It includes a trope I particularly love: a beautiful, ornate historical house that would make an incredible museum if it weren't, you know, haunted.

Perfect? Of course not. Yes, some of the ... imagery is a little pervy, and the character of Edith in particular was so fucking annoying to me. That being said, I didn't read it as homophobic. I've seen plenty of criticism about Edith's fear of "becoming" a lesbian - but to me, that isn't the author's fear; it's the character's. And that makes sense, given her background and worldview. It's not great, sure, but anyone with a lick of sense can read this without walking away scared of or hateful toward gay women.

Anyway, I genuinely had a blast with this. 

Hell House on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

5 stars. I'll be honest: I hate it when female characters get pregnant. This bothered me before I really even had words to explain it - way before the internet discovered the word "trope." I thought it was boring, silly, and cheap. A lot of dramatic things can happen to a woman that don't involve pregnancy - why do we return to it over and over again? 

Sure, it is absolutely a dramatic thing to happen IRL. Yes, mothers absolutely deserve representation. But I can tell when pregnancy is used as a lazy plot point, like for the sake of a cliffhanger, instead of a genuine factor in a character's development. I can tell. And it drives me crazy.

Imagine how emotional it felt, then, to read this book, in which pregnancy is a major theme, and is in fact written about intentionally, powerfully, and graphically - and woven into horror, my favorite genre, by Grady Hendrix, one of my favorite authors - and how emotional it felt to feel engaged and not put off, to really lean into the narrative because it involved pregnant witches, female empowerment, and revenge...

Fifteen-year-old Neva, pregnant and due in August, is sent to the Wellwood Home in Florida: a secluded refuge for so-called wayward girls. There, stripped of her name and given a new, anonymous identity, she’s told it’s for her own good: she will deliver her baby, surrender it for adoption, and return to her old life as if nothing happened. But isolation breeds rebellion. When the girls are given a book of witchcraft, they begin to test its power. As their bodies and spirits transform, they start to redefine what it means to be “wayward.”

Grady Hendrix gets better with every book, I swear. His writing is so tight now, so full of heart - he's always been amazing at writing hopelessness, which makes it that much more amazing when the tables turn. His signature immersive slang is on full display here, as is his research into the time, place, and spaces in which the story takes place. 

I agree with others that the supernatural aspects of the plot didn't perhaps pack as big of a punch as they could have. I would also argue that they didn't need to, because the reality in which he drops us is horrific enough. The fact that he could take a situation so disturbing, so dark, so depressing, so backwards, so infuriating, so disheartening and make it even the slightest bit amusing and warm and hopeful is really incredible.

And I don't think he does it for shock value, as shocking as some of these details read on the page. I don't think he does it so we sit there in awe asking "how could we have been so ignorant as a society and enforce this ridiculous ignorance on others?" Because that is a question that has never gone away, and likely never will. Trust me, I ask it daily, about things that happen... daily. He carves another entryway into this particular issue and it is truly through the hearts and souls of these women. I felt their female resilience, and resistance, in my bones.

Captivating, gut-wrenching, and powerful. Required reading.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Victorian Psycho

4 stars. It's not like we haven't seen this before... in many shapes and sizes. But this one effectively - delightfully - evokes its granddaddy in all the ways that matter. Consider me deeply impressed. And disgusted. 

The Victorian psycho in question is Winifred Notty, newly appointed governess to the Pound children at Ensor House. Her wards, Andrew and Drusilla, are insufferable, though nothing compared to their dreadful parents. But Miss Notty is full of surprises, and secrets, and when guests arrive for the Christmas holiday, bloody chaos ensues.

Sharp and clever in so many ways, Victorian Psycho is a great time. It pulls a lot from the classic: the protagonist’s topsy turvy grasp on reality, dark and creative kills, etc., but this book is shorter, tighter, and simpler than its American predecessor. It still manages to weave a rich tapestry of disturbing characters. Nobody is spared by the murderess, or the author. And it's hilarious.

Check TWs. I can't recall having read a more graphic book.

Victorian Psycho on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Black Angel (Charlie Parker #5)

3 stars. Recovering from a major life interruption (an injured partner, resulting in pseudo-single parenthood, during my biggest and busiest work month of the entire year - honestly it seems trite to spell it out like that but when I tell you I am tired), which means I gave this book a big ole break at the 50% mark. Jumping back in was easier than expected, though, and that's a testament to the story.

In The Black Angel, poor, haunted Charlie Parker is pulled into an investigation to locate a relative of Louis'. He discovers that her disappearance is tangled up in a treasure hunt of sorts for an icon, an icon that supposedly reveals the location of a fallen angel. Yes, an actual fallen angel. Meanwhile, balancing the dark world of his work and his new family proves impossible.

I have to admit - I'm not tired of these books yet. I'm notorious for jumping ship... it's been a longtime goal to finish the series I start. It hasn't been easy - in fact, I might call it downright challenging considering how dense and detailed these particular books are - but it has been rewarding, and honestly interesting to consume a story this way. Charlie Parker's evolution is fascinating. Still, I could use a character guide! My memory just isn't that strong anymore.

A couple of things I reacted negatively to, in this one: 1) how quickly and deeply this turned into horror fantasy. Don't get me wrong - I love horror. It's my primary genre. And I know previous books foreshadowed this. It just felt a little strange to me, like instead of an onramp we were thrown off a cliff. Like the author had an idea for a different series in a different genre but decided to plop Charlie into it because it was easier. He does his best - there are references to how things from previous books fit into the narrative - but ... idk. It felt a little bit like retconning? Allowed but annoying. 2) The writing. Amazing, but not without faults... an overreliance on "for," for one (ex: he went to the store, for he was hungry; he pulled out his umbrella, for it was raining). 3) The fatphobic and sexist elements, leftover from a previous space and time, sure, but also forming a pattern not so easily ignored in this one. 

A couple of things I really enjoyed: 1) Brightwell. The villains in this series are UNBEATABLE. 2) The religious lore/mythology. What a fascinating idea for religious horror!! Takes the Chosen One trope to a whole new/intricate level. 3) The treasure hunt concept. It's actually quite complicated in classic Connolly style, but I was happy to stick with it. The way he unfolds things is really interesting - he zooms in and out in unique ways. This lends itself to incredibly detailed (boring) tangents and deep dives into history and organized crime, but also feels really characteristic of the universe and not a dealbreaker.

Time for a quick break, but I'm excited to jump back in.

The Black Angel on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The White Road (Charlie Parker #4)

5 stars. Oh man. So dark. So good. Feeling a little worn out by some of the similar themes and plot devices - oh no, is Rachel in danger again? - but I still absolutely devoured this, and delighted in the way things went so super disgusting, disturbing, and dare I say - demonic. 

The White Road actually opens with a familiar trope: Charlie Parker is called down to South Carolina to help an old friend, a lawyer, defend a young man accused of murdering his lover. The victim: a member of a wealthy and influential white family in Charleston. The accused: a poor Black kid from a rival family whose mother and aunt disappeared without a trace decades ago. 

Parker's investigation reveals way more than expected, including an evil that goes back farther than the crime. Meanwhile, the villain of the last book, Reverend Faulkner, puts in motion a plan to exact his revenge and avoid rotting in jail like he deserves.

Who is guilty, who is innocent; justice versus vengeance; monsters old and new and unlikely; shame; madness; human nature. If I had read this 15 years ago I probably would not have thought of it as political as I do now. It does not shy away from aspects of America that require uncomfortable but necessary examination. It feels especially harrowing today, as America slides backwards under our feet. On the other hand, it almost makes the ending that much more satisfying.

This series often comes recommended for fans of True Detective, but I have to say - I didn't really sense those vibes in the first 3. In The White Road, though: not only does Connolly immerse you in the deep South (impressively, for an Irishman), he makes you sit there for a while, mosquito-bitten, sweaty, suffocated by the hate and blood that poisons the land down there. It did remind me of TD, seasons 1 and 3 specifically, and I look forward to chewing on the themes that crisscross both works.

I've been so curious to see how Connolly makes the supernatural/paranormal elements more apparent as the series goes on. It could've so easily gone cheesy, or lame, or out-of-place. I was pleasantly surprised, and creeped out - in a good way. I also adored the connections to one of my favorite themes in "The Wasteland," Dante's Inferno, etc. This is literary horror first, everything else second. 

This book really does stand out as fairly spectacular on all levels, from the sentence structure/word choice to the intricate (I needed a visual character web) plotting and pacing to the vibrancy and vibes and to the overall storytelling. More than once I was reminded of a certain prolific horror author who does it better than anyone; who goes deep and wide, and dark. 

Yep, as I mentioned: super dark, super disturbing - on almost self-indulgent levels. Check TWs. You've been warned. I need a palette cleanser. 

The White Road on: Amazon | Bookshelf.org | Goodreads

Review: Pilgrim

3 stars. Pilgrim is hailed as an obvious successor to the medieval horror giant Between Two Fires, and I can't disagree. It initially follows a German knight and a diverse group of companions as they embark on a dangerous journey to transport a sacred relic. And then their caravan is hit with a major sandstorm, from which they emerge under different stars. This new land, to say the least, is dark and full of terrors, and complicates their quest, which quickly becomes to return home. In a time rich with spiritual belief, superstition, and religious conflict, the knight and his crew face profound revelations amid threats from demons both physical and internal.

On paper, I should not have slogged through this - and yes, the action sequences / monster episodes got and kept my attention. But something about the writing had me chipping away at an uncharacteristically slow speed. The first eight chapters or so, especially. I really wanted to get the details straight, and learn the characters head to toe. I wanted to get their names and heritages and motives down so I could enjoy the wild ride. So I read and re-read those chapters many times, waiting for things to click into place. 

It didn't quite work. The story picked up, but even at the halfway point, I was SMH like how can cosmic religious horror be so... boring? I wasn't not enjoying it, it was just... sloggy. Heavy, dense, bogged down. As creative and cosmic as the imagery was, it was also excessively descriptive, and repetitive. Sometimes it felt like reading a textbook.

But yeah: in addition to the fact that he knows his way around a thesaurus, the author is obviously very talented. One review mentions giving this book 5 stars despite not enjoying it, because it's such a layered, detailed, researched accomplishment. It is incredibly impressive: a historical tapestry of interesting characters, vivid worlds, and grotesque monsters. (He has his favorite words - "slavering" - and his favorite phrases - "gaping maw" - but I digress.) There's a lot of philosophical dialogue - some of it really dripping with angst. The author clearly had a very specific vision for this story and I'd say he likely achieved it for himself. The horror elements are stunning - and stunningly disgusting. 

There's a good chance that if you enjoyed BTF, you'll enjoy this. But go in knowing it's not the same book. If I was more knowledgeable about the big religions, their deities, their origin stories, their myths and legends, and their theistic dynasties, I probably would’ve connected with it more. And I genuinely wish that I did. Religious clash and overlap is something I'm interested in and fascinated by. But this, over and over again, even on the final page, felt like something for the experts. 

Pilgrim on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Killing Kind (Charlie Parker #3)

3 stars. Can I get a round of applause for this villain?! Wow - arachnophobes be warned: stay far, far away - this book is not for you. Charlie's back and (surprise, surprise) gets pulled into a particularly twisted case involving a cult leader, the disappearance of his followers, and the death of a young woman investigating his potential reemergence. 

Charlie is still quite literally haunted, and beginning to come to terms with what seems to be a new calling, or drive, to fight for the dead. I'm really enjoying his journey, and the way the supernatural elements continue to unfold. I've always appreciated that Charlie is not a superhero; he experiences fear and trauma and makes mistakes. He gets worn down, he trembles, he has nightmares... but he isn't ashamed of any of this. 

This book zipped right along, but I found it to be a bit weaker than the first two structure-wise. Connolly has pulled the "he's still alive" rug before, so it packed less of a punch in this one, a hit only weakened further by his lack of screen time. Any other twists are kind of telegraphed as well. And the victim? Didn't really feel an emotional connection. No, the plot of this book is merely a vehicle to showcase the creative and cartoonish Mr. Pudd, who is absolutely ridiculous. I loved every inch of him all the same.

Rachel is not my favorite, nor is the trope utilized (a bit cheaply IMO) in the final chapter. I've mentioned this in my reviews for the first two - she's just too obviously written by a man. Angel and Louis, though, man - those two are the best found family ever. I continue to be pleasantly surprised by the sheer American-ness of the writing. America's huge, and Connolly manages to really capture some of its darkest, and lightest, pockets.

I’m starting to get a hang on what to expect from this series: dark, grim, moody mysteries with a lot of detail and focus on the investigator rather than the crime, or the criminals. Can't wait to keep reading.

Review: Dark Hollow (Charlie Parker #2)

4 stars. What a STORY. Thick with dread, atmosphere, and mystery - I'm slowly breaking in my Charlie Parker shoes and I love the way they feel so far. The way everything fell into place in the final quarter? Worth the journey 100%. That is some genius plotting right there, even if the pacing isn't totally on the same level. But these books are maybe meant to be a little dense, a little bloated, a little wearisome. This is not a Dan Brown sort of popcorn thriller, with short chapters and ridiculous cliffhangers that zip you right along. It's much more character- and detail-driven.

Almost a year after the murder of his wife and child, Charlie Parker gets caught up in a new mystery that pivots into another mystery that careens him into yet another mystery before tying everything up in a crazy violent bow. The ingredients are as follows: the murder of a young woman and her child, in the process of leaving a toxic relationship; the missing man she was leaving; the local mob organization, after the money he stole; the trail of bodies connected; the young couple caught up in it all; and then there's the man chosen - by forces out of his control - to investigate; the ghosts that haunt him; and the friends he makes along way :)

It sounds like a lot because it is. Poor Bird - he's been through it, he's going through it, and he'll go through it for like 20 more books. But I love that he learns about himself, and about the world, and he changes accordingly. I mentioned this in my review of the first book - I love that he isn't a loner. I mentioned the final quarter above - I can't not say how much I absolutely adored the big reveal, and the action really just didn't stop from there. Finally, there is a lot of praise for beloved couple Louis and Angel out there, and it's well-deserved. They are really special.

Onto the quibbles: it's a bit dated - I smelled sympathy for abusers, I smelled fat-shaming, I smelled gratuitousness, and I smelled poorly-written female characters. The level of detail is also sometimes, like, insane. The descriptions of certain locations dragged down the momentum a bit, and there is also an interesting obsession with when, how, and where people find and eat their meals. But I think at the end of the day that's just part of the book's charm and quirkiness - I will absolutely be continuing with the journey moving forward.

Dark Hollow on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Every Dead Thing (Charlie Parker #1)

4 stars. Man, I would love to see this adapted. Can you imagine how gritty the soundtrack would be? There are at least 2 seasons here - I wonder how much it influenced True Detective. There’s just so much potential it’s gross. Can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series.

After the tragic and brutal murder of his wife and child, private detective Charlie Parker takes a case to track down a missing woman connected to a wild crime family. Almost immediately the people orbiting the disappearance begin to die. As he pieces together the clues around the conspiracy, his family’s killer continues to stalk and haunt his every waking - and sleeping - moment.

Charlie Parker is different. Not only does he willingly rely on the help of his friends, he values them. He knows when they need space and respects them for it, and earns their respect in return. He recognizes when he’s out of his depth, he knows he’s a walking mess, and a magnet for danger. But he doesn’t just push people away like your classic baggage-laden detective. He’s haunted (literally), but not just by what or who he’s lost, also by his own choices and actions. He’s pretty self-aware for a grizzly anti-heroic detective.

It took me awhile to read this because it’s kind of dense, and requires close attention to detail. There are a ton of names and faces to remember, anecdotes to recall, and swirling points of context that you’ll blink and miss if you aren’t careful. I went back a lot, mostly to re-read character introductions. Still - all of this is part of why it’s addicting to read. The world building is incredible. So many have said these books need paring down, but what exactly would you cut?

Despite being written by an Irish author, this book feels super American. I have to point that out because it’s not always done so successfully - have you ever encountered a character from Los Angeles, for example, referring to people as “bruv?” Cultural anachronisms abound since the explosion of self publishing. Connolly carefully avoids it.

Sure, it’s a little dated. You can smell it in his descriptions of characters - especially the women. But it’s progressive in other ways. I highly recommend for fans of detective mysteries, noir fiction, and atmospheric thrillers where the setting is a character and the burn is - not slow exactly, but worth savoring and chewing on before swallowing. An excellent beginning.

Every Dead Thing on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: A Congregation of Jackals

4 stars. Brutal, violent, and disturbing - also exceptional, captivating, moving, even funny at times. I recently watched the movie Bone Tomahawk and it was an immediate favorite, so naturally now I’m obsessed with anything and everything similar. This author is an auto-buy.

A Congregation of Jackals tells the tale of four ex-cons, if you will; three of whom who travel to the Montana Territory for the fourth’s wedding - knowing an old nemesis has discovered the event and will seek his revenge. The narrative brings each of them, the bride-to-be, her father the sheriff, and several others into a real tangled ticking time bomb of a situation. And then it explodes.

Zahler is an excellent writer and craftsman. He pulls no punches and holds no prisoners. It’s addictive. The dialogue is crunchy and the characterizations are wonderful. He builds tension, and deploys it, like no other. Sure, it’s a little tropey, but Westerns are lush with them anyway. I like the way he handles the classic themes and motifs.

I know Western horror is a growing genre - this book should be considered a cornerstone. Check TWs. It’s not just Zahler’s vivid descriptions of violence, he is simply quite imaginative when it comes to making his characters suffer. It’s visceral and creative and cringe-inducing and emotional. I loved every sick moment.

A Congregation of Jackals on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads