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

Review: The Child Thief

5 stars. An epic adventure start to finish. Brom is incredible - what an imagination. I couldn’t predict anything in this story, which is magic to a reader like me; refreshing and memorable. Leave it to him to take Peter Pan and transform it into something incredibly dark and layered and complex, although like many beloved fairy tales, this one actually is a little less charming than it appears at first look back.

Weaving many familiar elements into a twisty, action-packed narrative, Brom gives Peter a new setting, a new tribe of followers, a new mission, and new enemies. Loyal to his Lady, a goddess who protects her enchanted island with a dangerous mist, the elven trickster recruits young lost souls from the human realm to fight with him against invasive threats; primarily, a group of settlers transformed into evil, fanatical creatures… plus some other stuff: an egomaniacal heir running around, an insane demon-obsessed reverend, some fancy swords, pixies, trolls, a river hag… also, everyone is generally just haunted and troubled.

It is kind of a lot to keep track of. Multiple times I questioned if the rich layers of exposition would be worth it or if they felt a bit superfluous. But it is a grand story on a grand scale, and ultimately I enjoyed the ride. Who am I to turn my nose up at multiple climactic twists, multiple fearsome antagonists, multiple character evolutions? Felt like the season of a tv show! Just… prepare for a long journey.

We get the story from Peter’s perspective and that of Nick, an older new recruit who transforms into a strong ally. The writing is cinematic and graphic - it's a deeply violent and disturbing book. While not exactly subtle, the themes are important: religious fanaticism and blindness, running away and coming of age, the ostracism of the different, the tragic futility of war and using violence as means to an end.

Glad I have more Brom to chew on. I want him to tackle every fairy tale - how would he twist The Little Mermaid? Narnia? The Nutcracker? I’d trust anything in his capable hands.

The Child Thief on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Lesser Dead

5 stars. By far one of the most refreshing vampire books I’ve ever read. Horrific and bloody but full of style and flair - maybe even a touch of whimsy. This is my third Buehlman and it’s fair to say all of his books are totally and delightfully distinct. His take on vampires, though, is exactly as fresh and scary as you’d expect from a genius.

The Lesser Dead is a dark character study of Joey Hiram Peacock, a vampire who was turned at 14 in the 1930s. Now living in NYC in the 70s, he’s found a sort of group - coven - who live and hunt together out of Subway tunnels. They are strong as a unit, helping and protecting each other from discovery. Until they encounter something stronger.

It did take me longer than normal to get through this, as it is more of a character study than an active narrative - until the action starts, which it does, brutally. Not for the faint of heart. It sort of sneaks up on you… Joey’s voice is charming, and kind of warm, a bit rogue and forgivably superficial. Cute. And the other vampires in his found family - the world building is super amazing, as is the lore, but the characters bring it all together. I would love more from this dark universe!

And then that ending. Holy fuckaroni, I did not see that shit coming. The whole point of the entire book may have been that gut punch of a twist, but I don’t even care. Beautifully done, really chilling, almost playful. Tempted to do a re-read now that I know what I know. There's a lot more brilliance here than I even realized.

Imagine vampires being scary again, like truly not sexy or sparkly at all. Monsters. It’s like that, and you’ll love it.

The Lesser Dead on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Revelator

4 stars. Really strange, and beautiful; this book is many things. I’m still processing. I may have to read it again when I’m out of the newborn phase and a little more clear-eyed. There’s a lot layered in… it’s a dark fable that touches on religion, fanaticism, tradition, power, morality, humanity… Big themes. Deep questions. Ambiguous answers. Or maybe clear answers, with ambiguous consequences. It showcases humans at their very best and very worst. I say this often in reviews - I’d love to read this for a lit class and have some things analyzed and explained to me. It’s worth a close study.

How to explain? Stella Birch is our main character, and she is strong, charming and feisty. The book alternates between her unusual coming-of-age in the 1930s and the aftermath of her guardian’s death in the 1940s. She is a revelator, which means she can take “communion” with her family’s “god,” which lives in a cave on their property. Though it might make her an iconic herald of “god’s” “message,” it is a rough and damaging responsibility, and the more she learns the more she resists. But the cycle continues, and soon another revelator is born to carry on the family’s worship and Stella must choose between embracing her dark heritage or breaking the cycle once and for all.

Or something like that, anyway.

This book is historical horror at its finest and its most unique. The sense of time and place is very strong and very important. The author did his research and the level of detail is admirable. Stella is also a formidably awesome heroine. Her protectiveness and loyalty and determination are the beating heart of the story, as are her relationships with Abby and Alfonse, both of them saviors, sometimes annoyingly.

I thought the depiction of different types of goodness and different types of evil was very interesting. I don’t know how metaphorical or allegorical the author meant to be, but I frequently found myself considering cults, especially religious ones, and the way cult leaders apply the concept of “chosen ones.” The complex sense of obligation and pride and gratitude and special-ness that creates. The difficulty to resist. Especially when it’s family. This book wrestles with all of that and more.

Anyway. I wouldn’t describe Revelator as particularly scary. But it is captivating and intense and unique. I saw it described somewhere as a book that is more about the journey than the destination and I think that’s true. It will probably haunt - and inspire - me for a long time.

Revelator on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Lighthouse Witches

3 stars. This is a fun one - mystery, thriller, horror all wrapped up in an easy box with a supernatural bow. While I think maybe there were too many threads woven into the tapestry, it still illustrates a pretty entertaining picture at the end of the day. I loved the folklore angle and the setting, and the twists and turns kept me paying attention.

The core of it involves Liv Stay and her three daughters, who arrive in a small
Scottish town in 1998 so Liv can paint a mural in the local historical lighthouse. The town is welcoming enough and strongly superstitious - which makes sense considering all the strange events involving missing and reappearing children that happen there. In 2021, one of the daughters is forced to reconcile with her past and is drawn back to try to sort through it all. There’s also a grimoire, witchy neighbors, dodgy locals, a cave, a shark. runes, a cute plasterer with hunches, and a mysterious lighthouse owner. And pop tarts.

I don’t know quite how to explain this, but I wish it went darker. There are some really dark elements but they don’t really land in a disturbing way… like, it tries to be dark, and there are some graphic moments, but I just wanted to pat the book on its head and say that’s adorable, bless your heart. Which is saying something, because the Scottish witch trials exemplify the darkest, blackest, most awful damage humanity can inflict upon itself. I dunno, the stakes just never felt super high, and there were so many things going on.

So many things: a lot of characters, and subplots, and entanglements; relationships to remember and interactions to keep track of. Some of the details were great, some of them felt superfluous. I’m not convinced the teenagers were written realistically (a very hard thing to be fair), but the kids were pretty cute.

Overall, I liked it. I enjoyed the mystery aspect the most, and I’d love to check out more by this author, who clearly knows her way around an intriguing premise / puzzle. This would make a great beach read.

The Lighthouse Witches on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: We Used to Live Here

5 stars. Wow - 10/10 reading experience. Did not expect to end up down a whole ass rabbit hole, but I’m so happy to be here. I got this book at the library but I will ask Santa for a hard copy because I am dying to re-read with a pen and highlighter!! Perfect? Of course not! But wow - creepy, mind-bending, eerie, haunting, unsettling, confusing in the best way.

It’s best to go in blind, but the basics: Eve and her girlfriend Charlie buy an isolated old house intending to fix it up. One night a family shows up, led by a man who claims to have grown up there. Eve lets them in to look around, against her better judgment, and… things get weird, and strange, very fast.

The comparisons to House of Leaves are inevitable. Love it or hate it, this book does take you down some similar paths. Many other reviewers have noted that you won’t get all the answers, which might be frustrating to some readers. I’ve seen it called pretentious, gimmicky, too conceptual, tricky… I don’t know, I loved it even if it is all of those things. The loose ends / ambiguous ending didn’t bother me at all - it’s certainly a choice and one I respect a lot!

If I had any little quibbles, I’d say that Eve’s character needed a lot of set-up to justify the narrative. Her quirks and anxieties drove me nuts (and I noticed a lot of mid-book exposition, which seems common in nosleep stories for some reason). But then again, if she hadn’t been such a people-pleasing dumbass, would the story have taken the turns it needed to for the thrills? My annoyance abated super quickly as events unfolded.

I highly, highly recommend this book for horror fans. Embrace the chaos. Jump down the rabbit hole. Read all the theories and Reddit posts and translate the clues. Life with a newborn is fucking ridiculously challenging, and this provided a very suitable and vivid distraction. I don’t think I’ll ever forget reading chapters on my phone in the dark during night feedings, not minding the misery of sleep deprivation with such a captivating book to read.

I WANT MORE!!! GIVE ME MORE!!! AND, I didn’t have to dock a star for a UDD!!

We Used to Live Here on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Books of Blood: Volumes 1-3

5 stars. As expected, this was excellent. Foundational. Really fun, and funny, and full of writing that is original and captivating. It’s like a box of wonders - each story is distinctively Barker but totally unique. I didn’t expect to close it feeling like I’d read the mothertext for so many horror stories that have come along since. The influence of this one is strong!!

Leaning towards dark fantasy at times, and with what now feels like classic eighties flair, Volume 1 explores themes of death, desire, sin, darkness, art, and more. “The Book of Blood” (admittedly not my fave) sets us up nicely, followed by:

• “The Midnight Meat Train” (a more New Yorkish horror story does not exist)

• “The Yattering and Jack” (superb, satisfying)

• “Pig Blood Blues” (dark, surprising, scary)

• “Sex, Death and Starshine” (cutting but very warm)

• “In the Hills, the Cities” (famous for a reason - the hype is real, very strange but mind blowing)

I’ve only read the Abarat books by Clive Barker, but I’ve been obsessed with them my whole life, so I guess it makes sense this would click with me. But it clicks with a lot of readers, and if you enjoy horror that drives a sense of gleeful fun alongside the scares, it will click with you too. Barker definitely has his… kinks, for lack of a better word (actually that might be the perfect word for it), but they come across beautifully here. There’s some really lovely writing, for a book so brutal and gory and disturbing.

From saviors to “villains” to every unfathomable creature in between that tries to deal with things like betrayal, true nature, injustice, evil, death itself, there really is only one path: madness. I really enjoyed this journey and can’t wait to continue it in the next book of volumes.

Books of Blood: Volumes 1-3 on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Anomaly

4 stars. This was a really, really good time. Pure adventure archaeology horror, which is apparently a genre I can’t turn down. Honestly, what in the world was that premise?? Like, what even happened here? And do I care, when the journey was so fucking fun? This is a campy, blockbuster beach read of a book and I would love it if everyone lightened up a bit and went for it.

The story follows Nolan Moore, archaeologist-turned-web series host, and his team as they investigate a sort of unsolved mystery / conspiracy theory about a hidden cave of wonders in the Grand Canyon. Having thus far in his content career focused on the journey, rather than the destination, no one is more surprised when they actually find it. But the deeper they venture into caves, the darker and more dangerous things get, and the quest becomes about way more than the truth: it becomes about their survival.

And there you have it - it’s REALLY awesome! At first I was kind of put off by the rogue lads and their sometimes cringey banter, and it took me a minute to wrap my head around Nolan as a character. But once things got rolling (ahem), I was hooked. And I fully embraced the cheesiness of it all. (I loved Ken. Loved him. Is that basic? Don’t care.) Throw in a couple of good twists, some heart pounding action, and genuine souls to root for and you’ve got a great reading experience.

But seriously though - what exactly happened, like, plot-wise? I think I get what they discovered and all of its crazy implications, but… I’m a little fuzzy on the specifics. You can tell the author is a screenwriter - it’s a cinematic book - but I question whether this could actually be adapted because… yikes, the antagonistic situation our heroes stumble into is… unique. (Whispers: silly.) I’ll take a page from Nolan and say it’s more about the journey here. The moments that entertain us along the way. It gets a lot of points for being unique, I’ll say that.

For further reading, I highly recommend The Ruins (much darker - bleak survival horror at its best) and Thunderhead (an adventure masterpiece that combines a lot of similar aspects). The Anomaly is like their wacky, ridiculous younger brother. Still, I would call this the trifecta of dark archaeology books, among those I’ve read so far. I look forward to reading more.

The Anomaly on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads