Steve Stred's Blog

Book Review: I Will Wander On by Ron Prasad

Title: I Will Wander On: Terrifying Tales of Life, Love, & Death

Author: Ron Prasad

Release date: September 3rd, 2024

*Huge thanks to Ron for sending me a digital copy of this one!*

In July of this year – 2025 – I spent the month dedicating my social media pages to Canadian Horror. You might’ve even seen that! I posted hundreds and hundreds of books, movies, publishers and cover artists and during that time, I had a few folks ask if I’d read every book I’d posted.

Nope. I wish I had, but there were a lot on the list I simply hadn’t read yet.

One such author that I featured in a post – Ron Prasad – reached out to me and thanked me for featuring his book and asked if I’d read it yet. I hadn’t, and though it was on my very long list of books I still need to purchase, he kindly offered to send me a digital copy for me to read when I had a chance.

If you’ve been following my reviews for the last five years or so, you’ll know I’ve been complaining about my burn out on short story collections and anthologies. Because of that burn out – which honestly, I think is just a thing now that I have to live with! – I tend to steer clear of collections/anthologies, even if they’re offered to me, but in this case, I accepted, as I was curious to see what Ron was creating and it would tick off one of the books on my list I hadn’t read yet!

I dove in, totally blind, and boy, was I richly rewarded for what was within these pages.

What I liked: To be straight up with you – there isn’t a let down or a short story that didn’t cut it within these fifteen stories. I was actually really surprised, because often there’s a story within each collection I read where it feels kind of forced in (I know I’ve done it before), where the author REALLLLLLY loves a specific story, even though it doesn’t flow well or fit thematically within the group of stories selected.

Not here.

Every story is a home run, which made it really difficult for me to narrow down my favorites. Ron’s writing is easily digestible but also layered and complex. There’s a lot going on in each story, though never did I feel dumb reading the stories or lost.

One of the highlights of the collection is the very first story.

‘The Spinal Girl’ was a huge surprise for me, mainly because I’ve gravitated away from zombie fiction over the last half decade. This one was different. This one was gripping, nuanced and the titular character was a really fun twist within the story. This is one where Ron could easily expand upon the events and the world and give us a really engaging three book series of pre/during/post and see where things started, what’s happening and where things went and I’d be all over reading those!

The next story that really grabbed me was ‘Leftovers.’ On the surface, this seemed to be a simple story about a prison guard having to deal with a crazy killer on death row, but we soon see a cosmic shift and the ending will have you revisiting the opening paragraphs. Just a great story.

‘Destroyer of Worlds’ was another phenomenal story that had me thinking back to the crazy movies in the late 80s and early 90s I loved to watch. After moving into a new apartment, a hole is accidently created in the wall, except behind it the residents find a ladder that seems to go down forever. Another cosmic/portal story that was just top notch enjoyable.

‘Find My Phone’ might be one of the shortest stories within the collection, but it was also perhaps the most heart wrenching. Carl is on a trip to honor a friend who died. While there he loses his cellphone. After talking to his son, his son says to use the find my phone app, which he does and that’s where this story takes a huge turn and punches you in the stomach unexpectedly. I won’t go further into this one, but this was just perfect.

‘The Misshapen’ begins simple enough, but Ron wasn’t content with simple. This one follows Tony and his wife Mei, who’ve moved into a new place with Mei’s mom, after they lost their young son. Tony experiences something odd one night, while taking the dog out, and from there everything gets thrown into chaos. This story was a novel’s worth of craziness within twenty pages or so, but it was essentially like an X-Files episode written by Adam Nevill. This would’ve been my favorite story within the collection, but there was one other that really nailed it for me. And that was…

‘Paint the Forest.’

Look, there’s very few things that could top ‘X-Files by way of Adam Nevill’ for me, but the one thing that can is Bigfoot. And that’s what ‘Paint the Forest’ focuses on.

The story follows an older woman, being interviewed, who is sharing what happened many years ago when she was hired as a surveyor for a logging company. While there, creatures attack and she learns of them and what she must do to ensure their safety. This was a cryptid love story with environmental themes and the role mankind has in the destruction of our forests. This was fantastic and much like ‘The Spinal Girl,’ I’d love to see this expanded into a long form release.

What I didn’t like: This was one of those rare collections, like I mentioned earlier, where every story really worked for me. The only thing that stood out for me that I wasn’t too sure about, was there was a few stories that seemed to maybe be related to something else. Either that or I was just reading into that too far. Saying that, maybe there’s more planned in some of those worlds and it’s in the works etc. etc. But either way, it didn’t distract or hinder my reading experience.

Why you should buy this: This was an absolute unexpected gem. Going in, I was thinking there’d be one or two stories that really worked for me, but going through the notes I made about each story, only two stories I rated as four star, while the rest were five. This collection is STRONG and flows fantastically. Ron bounces from strength to strength and whether you want a collection with a lot of creatures or one with a lot of heart, Ron gives us both in spades, which absolutely elevated this one.

What a fantastic collection and one I hope a lot more readers begin to rave about.

Book Review: Song Dogs by Brennan LaFaro

Title: Song Dogs

Author: Brenna LaFaro

Release date: December 2nd, 2025

*Huge thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a digital ARC of this one!*

Here we go! Book four!

‘Song Dogs’ arrives as the fourth book in LaFaro’s ‘Buzzard’s Edge Saga,’ though technically it’s the third long read – book three is made up of short stories. I’ve read the first two books, though haven’t gotten around to book three yet – purely because I’ve been limiting how many short story collections I’ve been reading.

Books one and two introduced us to Rory and Alice (and judging from the synopsis of book three, I’ll assume they appear within some of the stories), but book three introduces us to a Rory and Alice we’ve not yet seen much of. They’re now ‘settled,’ and folks in the area know who they are. But being settled hasn’t made them complacent and with how things are in Buzzard’s Edge, it doesn’t take long until something nefarious arrives.

What I liked: With Rory and Alice now living there, they’ve gained a small degree of notoriety, almost bordering on celebrity, having made a name for themselves with the events in the previous two books. Alice stays more to the side, mute and gun ready.

Things really ramp up when creatures begin to appear and wreck havoc, first with a chimera-like animal. It becomes Rory and Alice’s job to figure out the what and why. The investigation into the what and the why allows us readers to see how close-knit these two are and how they work off each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Together, they are the whole pie. Individually, they’re not as steady as they could be.

LaFaro has done a wonderful job of developing these characters over the course of their adventures together and throughout this one, they’re easily the stars of the show, firmly the two that the readers cheer for.

As the craziness picks up, we know we can count on these two to band together, overcome the insanity and ultimately come out on top. Which we see with an action-packed final quarter.

What I didn’t like: I’m not 100% sure of the word I’m looking for here, so I’m going to go with this – wholesome. This book – and series – has fallen into a ‘wholesome’ groove and in this case, I think the issue will be if that avenue makes it predictable. While the book and series have been fantastic, there’s only been one kind of ‘tug-at-the-heart’ death/character ending that threatened to upend the flow of the narrative and at this point, I think in order for the series to remain fresh going forward, there’s going to have to be some wickedness that ruins the readers day to keep things marching on.

That’s just my opinion, granted, but after seeing how things have gone in these three books, I now worry for a predictable future which might turn folks away.

What I liked: So, you can also ignore that previous section because I also want to use ‘wholesome’ for one of the strengths of this book and the series. It’s been great seeing Rory and Alice come together, grow together and work together to take down whatever gets thrown at them.

The ‘Buzzard’s Edge’ series has been a great exercise in blending the fantastical with western horror and LaFaro is clearly having a blast writing these books.

If you’re looking for a world filled with characters and craziness, look no further, ‘Song Dogs’ is another great entry into a series that’s really entertained me. These are always a lot of fun!

Book Review: In the Bones by Tessa Wegert

Title: In the Bones (North Country #1)

Author: Tessa Wegert

Release date: November 4th, 2025

*Huge thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a digital ARC!*

Now, you may be asking yourself – Wait? Steve’s reading what? That? Well, I didn’t know Steve read mystery/thrillers!

And you wouldn’t be crazy in your thinking. Though I have enjoyed more mainstream books in the past, I’ve definitely veered sharply over my life more towards the horror realm and it does take a lot to get me out of my chosen genre.

But, I’ll also push back about the lack of mainstream books in my reading history and remind you of who my favorite author is, who coincidentally might be one of the biggest mainstream horror writers we’ve ever seen.

And it was through that author that I connected with Tessa, and when I asked Andrew about how the book he blurbed for her was, he told me it was fantastic and highly recommended I check out her books.

So, here we are. Now, I wasn’t too sure what to expect outside of the set up – a former NHL player buys a house in a remote North East town. Folks are excited to have him as a member of the community. But that all changes when an intruder surprises a woman cleaning the house and the body of a young woman is found in the basement.

I was intrigued. Who wouldn’t be? And with that, I dove in and found myself smack in the middle of a wild who-dunnit.

What I liked: If you’ve read any of my prior reviews, you’ll know that one of my biggest pet peeves is multiple POVs. Well, guess what? That’s this book. But where I normally roll my eyes and huff out in frustration, I just went with it, understanding the need for the switches.

The book loosely focuses on Nicole, the wife of Woody, who owns a seasonal mini-golf location. They have two daughters, the oldest about to graduate and head to college, and – as with many people these days – money is tight. They’re also struggling personally, as behind Nicole’s back, Woody signed on to be a partner with Mikko Helle, former NHLer, in an upstart business in town. Woody’s given Mikko their entire life savings and after a party at Mikko’s, Nicole isn’t sure if she can trust him like she used to.

From this point on, we jump between a bunch of characters, getting the present happenings of the investigation, while also seeing tidbits from the past. It works well to keep us informed, while Wegert also plants little seeds of ‘potentials.’ Those moments where we’re certain we know who did it, only to discover they couldn’t be the one… only to have that seed replanted when new information comes to light.

The pacing picks up throughout, which works perfectly to ramp up alongside the investigation and it leads us to the big reveal where we discover who did it.

Wegert guides us well, keeping us on our toes from start to finish.

What I didn’t like: Hey, look at that – I actually liked the multiple POVs! As for what didn’t work for me, there were two aspects. The first – and I think this is a case of me not reading much in this current landscape of mystery/thrillers – is there was a lot of exposition in a lot of the opening chapters. And it happened later on. I get that the characters are kind of rambling through thoughts and trying to figure out what was going on, but there were times when it just seemed like a lot considering where we were in the story.

The second thing itself was the ‘big reveal’ and events at the end. It always grinds my gears when we have all of this build up only for the ‘ta-dah!’ to be a few paragraphs long and this fell closely into that world. Again, I think this is a case of ‘standard plotting’ for this type of novel and what the readers like to eat up who read largely in this genre, but I wanted more of a ‘final confrontation.’

Why you should buy this: Tessa is known for her critically acclaimed Shana Merchant series, and Shana is a secondary character within the book as this branches off from that world, so fans of that series and of Shana’s will definitely be flocking over to this one.

For those who’ve not read Tessa’s work yet, this is a smart, sharp, edge-of-your-seat novel that felt a lot like how CSI and NCIS used to feel back when it started and was fresh. There’s a lot of moving pieces, Tessa delicately and expertly works them around each other and together and we’re all the richer for how well she handles this thriller.

This was a lot of fun, and even though it was far outside my standard reading preference, I was hooked and I’ll definitely be keeping my eye open for when we see a North Country #2 down the road.

Book Review: Hard Luck Jenny by David Sodergren

Title: Hard Luck Jenny

Author: David Sodergren

Release date: October 3rd, 2025

*Huge thanks to David for the digital ARC of this one!*

Ahhhhhh, the novella.

In my opinion, often the perfect length for horror storytelling. 60-120mins of reading time, with a massive story packed in and not nary a room to breathe between pages, it grabs me, holds me (sometimes caresses me, oh la la, lol!) and won’t let go until the very – and often times – bitter end. Perfect.

Now, Sodergren has released a few novellas, both as himself and as Carl John Lee, but recently he’s been focused on the mid-length novels in his releases, so a return to the novella length had me excited. Double exciting (though also with a touch a sadness, I will admit), I had no idea what to expect with this one, as this was the first book of his own excluding ‘The Forgotten Island’ (and not counting Carl John Lee’s ‘The Blood Beast Mutations’) that I didn’t beta read. Though, saying that, we did message back and forth a bit about what he was working on and he’d mentioned a few things from this one.

So, with an open mind and an hour set aside to read this, I dove in and was blasted straight in the face.

What I liked: The story follows chronic urinator Dennis, who is driving on a rainy Scotland evening. He needs to get back home as he works in the morning. His frequent pee breaks mean he’s meticulously planned out his route, but when a downed tree forces a detour, he ends up in the middle of nowhere and accompanied by a bursting-at-the-seams-bladder. A few years prior, he had an accident while driving drunk, and ever since he’s remained sober. Which forces him to make a heavy choice, when he rolls into a small town and finds the only place open is a pub. But nature’s calling and he heads in.

Up until this point, the story is fairly straight forward, if not a touch silly in the set up. Dennis is on the phone with his wife and leaves the phone in the car as he heads in, but things really ramp up once inside.

Here’s where Sodergren shines with storytelling. You immediately feel like you’ve been in this pub. Even with scant details of the actual location, you vividly picture it in your mind. Same with the folks he interacts with. Like the bartender who is pissed off that Dennis orders ‘only a Coke.’ You feel like you’ve interacted with him before. And once in the bathroom, he runs into an older man who berates him for not being more respectful to Jenny, though Dennis doesn’t know who she is and can only assume it’s the gorgeous lass with the ram’s head adorning her head. And why should he be more respectful? It’s her recently deceased husband’s wake. Colin has died and Dennis finds himself in a bind. And as he tries to get free of the pub and make his escape, he discovers that the locals are nuts and just maybe he won’t be able to leave after all.

From that point on the novella is campy, riveting and filled with total chaos. Dennis tries to flee, Jenny and her family are having none of it and it mixes Ray Garton’s ‘The Folks’ with Dan Howarth’s ‘Last Night of Freedom’ fantastically.

The ending is a bit of gruesome fun, highlighting the insanity of the people in this small town, the pub itself and the mess Dennis has found himself in.

What I didn’t like: I’ve never been a fan of books where the interactions between characters are so far off the wagon that it makes me frustrated and Sodergren used that method here. While it works to showcase the complete lunacy of the people and place, every time Dennis interacted with someone I wanted to scream at my Kindle haha! So, while it fits the book and was purposeful by David, it completely annoyed me and at times pushed this book to the very edges of Bizarro fiction, which I really struggle with.

Additionally, I wished there was more about the ‘why.’ The why of this community being like this and why this is happening and at this particular moment, why it focuses on Jenny.

Why you should buy this: At this point do I really need to suggest why you should buy a Sodergren book? He’s one of the top Indie authors out there and his books are on every second or third IG and Tik Tok book post I see. BUT, if I was being forced to suggest why you should read this, I’d tell you that this novella is a rampaging ball of brutality and fun. Equal parts absurdity and carnage, David writes with such glee that you’ll zip through this one and find yourself sweating and breathless.

Another winner from Sodergren, an author you need to be reading if you’ve not read yet.

Book Review: The Glass Man by Anders de la Motte

Title: The Glass Man (Leo Asker #2)

Author: Anders de la Motte

Release date: August 26th, 2025

*Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*

Last year, my great book pal Char, suggested I should check out ‘The Mountain King’ the first book in this series. I always listen to Char’s rec’s and I’m glad I did, because it was a blast.

Fast forward to early July, and I received an email from Atria, letting me know that the second book was being released with an English translation and asked if I’d like to give it a read. Absolutely!

I wrapped up a couple reads and dove in, with high expectations and believing I had more than enough time to get this one done prior to release date. Life got in the way a bit and slowed me down, as well, this was one of those books where sometimes I’d read for an hour or two and somehow I didn’t make any progress, so my apologies to Atria and the author for not finishing this one prior to release date.

What I liked: So, this is a book two and in this case, you absolutely have to have read book one, as this picks up literally during the phone call at the end of book one, so everything ahead in this review will come off a bit spoiler-ish, so read with caution if you’ve not read book one.

After surviving the events of ‘The Mountain King,’ Leo receives a phone call from her estranged father, Prepper Per, letting her know that a body has been found near his compound and that he’ll be implicated in the death. He suggests she help him, otherwise there will be bloodshed when the police come to raid his place. As well, Hill has come through surgery after the events of book one and is taking a leave from the university. Expecting to relax, he’s surprised by a phone call from Gunnar Irving’s company. Gunnar is a billionaire, medical tech genius who credits his tech discoveries to seeing a UFO when he was younger and getting the information from those onboard. He lives at Astroholm Manor, a secluded place with an island in the middle of lake where strange things have been said to happen.

As Leo struggles to decide if she should help Per, Hill heads to the Manor to write his dream book, but as is always the case, what you see isn’t always what you get.

The book bounces back and forth between Leo and Hill and we see them struggle with their unexpressed feelings towards each other, as well as with their individual storylines. de la Motte does a great job by juggling these two storylines and keeps the tension high with tight, shorter chapters. Everything feels snappy and fresh and very rarely does a cliff hanger happen and the shift to the next chapter feel like a let down.

As the mystery of both storylines deepens before merging, we get some phenomenal lore building within Hill’s storyline and we get a deep, robust father-daughter relationship dynamic plot line in Asker’s. This works really well to let areas of the novel breath, especially when the shit hits the fan in the final quarter.

At the end, we get a lot of questions answered, as well as secrets revealed and those revelations will either work for the reader or not, but within the context of the story, they manage to bring a conclusive element to the book.

Saying that, the ending suggests there’s more in store for Leo, and so far, there’s been four total books released in Sweden, so I assume we’ll be getting a third soon.

What I didn’t like: While we do get a lot of questions answered, I will say the portion of Per’s storyline where he’s seemingly planted somebody where they’ll perfectly help him and surveil for him seemed a bit too perfect. There’s a lot of questions unanswered on that particular plot point.

Why you should buy this: I mean, if you loved book one, you’ll love book two. Otherwise, book one dealt with urban exploration and book two deals with a crazy mansion with secret doors, UFO’s, something strange with red eyes roaming the woods and a family mystery that’s decades old. All very intriguing and all explored thoroughly within this one. What’s not to get your interest?

This one was a ton of fun and it was great following Leo on an adventure again.

Book Review: Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi

Title: Amulet: The Stonekeeper (Amulet #1)

Author: Kazu Kibuishi

Release date: January 1st, 2008

As we often do, my wife, son and I were perusing the shelves at Value Village, looking for some books my son and I could read together. We’ve found a lot of marvelous gems that way, including the Dragon Masters series, Bird & Squirrel, and a few others. As my son has gotten older, I’ve been looking to find a graphic novel to add, as we really loved the Bird & Squirrel graphic novels. It allowed us to decide which characters to be, give them their own voices and really enjoy reading and performing the books together. It was on one such trip that I pulled ‘Amulet: The Stonekeeper’ from the shelf and we were sold. The cover is gorgeous – plus any cover that has a tentacle writhing through a doorway will always have our attention – and the synopsis on the back sounded interesting.

So, recently, after we finished reading one book and we were looking to start another, we decided to give this one a shot and I have to say, we were both knocked for a loop.

What I liked: The story follows Emily and Navin, who’ve recently moved with their mom to a derelict home formerly owned by their grandfather. This, after a family tragedy has upended their previous life. After arriving, they discover the house is in even poorer shape than they imagined and they get to work deep cleaning.

It’s while clearing that Emily discovers their grandfathers library and unwittingly stumbles upon a gorgeous amulet necklace. At first, it just seems like a necklace, but that night while they try to sleep, a crazy monstrosity comes and takes their mom, pulling her through a door in the basement.

Naturally, they follow, wanting to save their mom, but once they run through the door, there’s no going back and that’s where this book really kicks off.

Kibuishi does a wonderful job of giving us some back story and lore regarding the place the children have arrived and we soon meet Kismit, an odd rabbit like creature (who may be a robot?) who brings them to their grandfathers house over in this strange world.

Throughout though, the aspect of desperately trying to find their mom is paramount and the cast of characters we meet within the house are there to help the kids, whether they want to or not. Because the world beyond those walls is filled with things that want to cause them harm and steal the amulet for themselves.

It makes for a fun rollicking adventure through the landscape as they try to get their mom back.

The ending of the novel sets up thing to progress into the next book, which we’re very excited to dive into once we get it.

As well, as this is a graphic novel and a bit different than what I normally read/review, I have to say the artwork throughout is stunning. Just gorgeous, gorgeous art on every page.

What I didn’t like: There were two things that really stuck out for me. The first is Emily and Navin seem to just completely accept what’s happened and where they end up. There’s no questioning about anything and they just run forward, full steam ahead without once stopping to wonder whether they should. Every creature that comes along is simply accepted and there’s not even a throwaway line once like ‘these things shouldn’t exist’ or anything.

The second thing, is that in the start of the book, after they’ve moved and once they arrive in the other world, there’s a lot that’s kind of left to the reader to fill in. It works to move the story along, but it also made a few areas feel very rushed.

Why you should buy this: This is a gorgeous, imaginative story filled with deep emotions and fantastic creatures. We get robots, tentacled beasts and elf-like forest dwellers. And all the while, we get to go along with Emily and Nav as they search for their mom. This was only book one, but I can’t wait to see where this story goes.

Book Review: Secret Lives of the Dead by Tim Lebbon

Title: Secret Lives of the Dead

Author: Tim Lebbon

Release date: August 26th, 2025

*Huge thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for the digital ARC of this one!*

There’s a brilliance that shines forth when an author includes aspects of something they truly live and breathe and love in their real lives, within their written work. Sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it’s overt, but no matter which way the author chooses to implement it within the book, it sparkles, crackles and fills the spaces between words with a palpable energy.

With Tim Lebbon, that aspect is running. If you follow Tim on Facebook or subscribe to his newsletter/blog, you’ll see a majority of his personal updates are about running events he’s taken part in, whether a marathon length or longer. In fact, his love for running is what elevated his 2020 novel ‘Eden,’ to another level. (And if you’ve not read that banger – A- shame on you and B- get on it, it’s glorious!).

In fact, Tim’s latest novel, ‘Secret Lives of the Dead,’ is what happens when you take that novel and mix it with his recent novel, 2024’s ‘Among the Living,’ and shook them up and tossed them on the table. Where ‘Eden’ had the running, survival element, ‘Among the Living,’ has the heavy, lovely folklore elements.

I went into this one rather blind, but confident knowing I was in Tim’s capable and wonderful writing hands, and wow, did this novel deliver a thrill ride I wasn’t expecting.

What I liked: The novel hops between multiple POV’s but our de facto main character is Jodi. A young woman, she’s haunted by events in her past, including her dad’s death in a car accident she witnessed, and ever since that moment, she’s lived a bit of a nomadic existence. Moving from place to place, never feeling settled, but always finding a place to run. Throughout her wandering life, she’s keeping her eyes open for the relics, pieces of something that seem to hold a curse and that were directly related to her dad’s untimely death.

At her current stop, she learns one might be within an old, abandoned mansion. To her surprise, she’s connected with a man, BB, more than she’s ever connected before. Some might even call it love. Joined by his friend, Matt, the trio break in to find whatever treasure might be inside – with Matt and BB unaware that Jodi is searching something more.

It’s here that Lem is introduced. He’s seeking the relics for himself in an attempt to break the curse that’s enveloped his family for many, many decades. He’s been battered and beaten and carries the scars on his skin from his search.

A confrontation occurs, Jodi and crew flee and from there Tim takes us on a day-long thrill ride filled with brutality, loss, heartbreak and gore. It’s a mixture of very high moments and very low moments and Tim has a way of letting the sorrow sit and take hold while also skyrocketing our blood pressure without warning. Throughout, Tim uses the world around our characters as chess pieces to move and use to better and worsen each others situations and the constant tug of war between Jodi and Lem is heightened because of that. Ultimately, those two want each other to die, while each understanding the other is part of the puzzle for the other to use to get to their end goals.

The final quarter is a dizzying sprint. I raced through it, needed to see what would happen and learn the truth of what resides on Crow Island. Tim sets things up really nicely and when the domino’s fall, it was done with such precision that it felt like the air was sucked from the room.

The epilogue was fitting and answered some questions that lingered and I for one was glad to have answered.

What I didn’t like:  The whole spoiler thingy kind of prevents me from fully discussing what I didn’t like, but what I can say is that revelation of a specific character potentially still being alive and being part of the curse’s dynamic ultimately felt like it fizzled out when we got to the part of actually seeing this character. It felt glossed over and not as impactful as I was thinking it would be.

Why you should buy this: Lebbon is a world class author who is frankly firing on all cylinders. His last three novels have all been PHENOMENAL – ‘Eden,’ ‘The Last Storm,’ and ‘Among the Living,’ and ‘Secrets of the Dead’ only adds another amazing book to a bibliography that boasts over a dozen top drawer reads. ‘Secrets of the Dead’ is a spot on mix of friendship, frustration and kinetic energy. Throughout, you’ll be on the edge of your seat, always waiting to see what happens next and when it does happen, you’ll keep speeding along, pulled roughly by the scruff of your neck as Tim bludgeons these characters to within an inch of their lives.

Pulse-pounding thriller. What a ride.

Book Review: The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

Title: The Wild Robot Escapes

Author: Peter Brown

Release date: March 13th, 2018

It was last year that my son and I finished book one, ‘The Wild Robot,’ and we almost immediately dove into this, the sequel. For whatever reason, we kept getting sidetracked and we’d read a chapter here, a chapter there, until eventually we weren’t even picking it up at all, focused on other books that came along.

Now, that’s not to say this is a bad book right off the hop – far from it, this book is wonderful – it’s just more a commentary on the fact that while we started this off with the best intentions to read it right away after book one, life got busy. Finally, this past weekend, while camping, we wrapped it up and now we both can’t wait to check out the third one.

In my previous review, I said that the first book was perfect until the very ending – mild spoiler ahead – because instead of Roz simply enjoying that she was on the island, seeming free of the Reco’s and reunited with Brightbill and her animal friends, she decided to head back to the bigger world, where she came from to see  how she fit.

With that in mind, it made a sequel necessary, at least if you wanted to follow Roz’s story and see where her life took her and my son and I wanted to do just that.

What I liked: The book pick’s up with Roz being ‘reconditioned’ and working at a farm. There, she befriends the farm animals – much like on the island – and tries to get any updates on Brightbill. The farm is owned by a man, who lives there with his two children. Unfortunately, their mother has passed away after an illness. It takes some time for Roz to cozy up and gain the children’s trust and when she finally reveals herself to them and asks for their help so that she can escape the farm and find Brightbill, the story really takes off.

Brown does a wonderful job of making Roz relatable while also being mysterious within this second book. It’s a showcase of trying to find one’s place while making their current situation work for them and as with book one, it shows that kindness is the best way to connect and make friends.

The story isn’t without antagonists. Once again, Reco’s are after her and we get some mangy coyotes vowing revenge on Roz for preventing them from feasting on the farm animals, but ultimately, the story is shaped by Roz trying to return to the island while also finding where she belongs and where she came from.

This is answered in the final quarter of the book and while I won’t go too far into this – spoilers and such – it worked really well to see how connection and humanity can triumph over policy and public pressure.

The ending was really enjoyable and this book can be read as a conclusion for the story, working to wrap up everything from book one and two while leaving the door open for the third book, which we already have and are excited to read.

What I didn’t like: Personally, I wish we had a further expansion on the wider world where Roz ends up. I’d like to learn more about how things operate, the way robots and humans interact and why things have gone the way they have. There’s a lot of dystopian hints throughout, but nothing gets really revealed and it’s left me wanting more.

Why you should buy this: If you read book one and loved it then you’ll love book two. Roz is a phenomenal character, one that teaches valuable lessons and connects richly with the reader. My son and I greatly enjoyed this one! Now, onto book three!

The Huge Compiled List From Canadian Horror Month!

Weeeeeeelllllll!

Here we are!

August 1st, 2025. Which means July is done and over with and so is the month-long marathon I just did of sharing and showcasing Canadian Horror! I stuck predominantly with books, but did have a post about cover artists, publishers and movies!

Every single Instagram/Tik Tok post also featured a song from a Canadian band, which was a ton of fun to kind of go through and choose.

Now, a couple of quick bits before you can scroll through this insane compilation of links for everything!

Firstly – for 99% of all the books listed here, you’ll see that the link is to the Amazon US site. That’s because 75% of people who will click through this will be from the US. If you are in a different country, simply change the link from amazon dot com to dot ca or whatever your Amazon country is. Easy peasy.

Secondly – there are a few books within that are either out of print or no longer on Amazon. So, a few will purely have Goodreads links.

Thirdly – for a few of the publishers that I could, I put in the direct link from their website – specifically Little Ghosts and Undertow.

Fourthly – I did my absolute best to include and showcase as many Canadian authors as I possibly could. If I missed anyone, anyone at all, I am very sorry. This was a huge undertaking, but also a huge labor of love, so please no, if I missed it, it was due to the sheer volume of books I had saved and somehow a book slipped between the cracks.

Lastly – thank you for everyone’s huge enthusiasm towards all of this! Please, enjoy the compiled list below and please, please, please buy books from authors in here that you’re interested in!

 

Cover Artists

Trevor Henderson – https://trevorhenderson.format.com/

Geoff Parrell – https://numbphasedesign.ca/

Francois Vaillancourt – https://www.francois-art.com/

Publishers

Eerie River – https://www.eerieriverpublishing.com/

The Seventh Terrace – https://the-seventh-terrace.com/

Undertow Publications – https://undertowpublications.com/

ECW Press – https://ecwpress.com/

Little Ghosts Books – https://www.littleghostsbooks.com/

Movies

Splice – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1017460/

Pontypool – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226681/

Skinamarink – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21307994/

Scanners – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081455/

The Void – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4255304/

Ginger Snaps – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210070/

Videodrome – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086541/

Books

Dark Canadiana Anthology

US – https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Canadiana-Anthology-Canadian-Horror-ebook/dp/B0FBGWT4LB/

Gulf by Shelly Campbell

US – https://www.amazon.com/Gulf-Gripping-Otherworldly-Coming-Age-ebook/dp/B0BBCYV55J/

Weed by Night by Sarah L. Johnson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Weed-Night-Short-Sharp-Shocks-ebook/dp/B097C6PCGZ/

Everything Leads Back to Alice by Chris Marrs

US – https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Leads-Alice-Chris-Marrs-ebook/dp/B00NWMOTZU/

Return to Dyatlov Pass by J.H. Moncrieff

US – https://www.amazon.com/Return-Dyatlov-Pass-J-H-Moncrieff-ebook/dp/B07BF48WP5/

No One Will Come Back For Us by Premee Mohamed

Link – https://undertowpublications.com/ebooks/no-one-will-come-back-for-us-epub

Final Track by Julie Hiner

US – https://www.amazon.com/Final-Track-Detective-Mahoney-Book-ebook/dp/B082FVH3DP/

The Talosite by Rebecca Campbell

Link – https://undertowpublications.com/ebooks/the-talosite-epub

Northern Nights Anthology

Link – https://undertowpublications.com/ebooks/northern-nights-epub

Solstice in Purgatory Anthology

US – https://www.amazon.com/Solstice-Purgatory-Purgatorio-Robert-Bose-ebook/dp/B0CKJ6N8PD/

Toronto Noir Anthology

US – https://www.amazon.com/Toronto-Noir-Akashic-Janine-Armin-ebook/dp/B008SBHIVC/

Prairie Gothic Anthology

US – https://www.amazon.com/Prairie-Gothic-Anthology-Stacey-Kondla-ebook/dp/B08NYYKVDW/

Taaqtumi Anthology

US – https://www.amazon.com/Taaqtumi-Anthology-Arctic-Horror-Stories-ebook/dp/B08SHRP647/

Prairie Witch Anthology

US – https://www.amazon.com/Prairie-Witch-anthology-Stacey-Kondla-ebook/dp/B0BL3W44QM/

FOE by Iain Reid

US – https://www.amazon.com/Foe-Iain-Reid-ebook/dp/B075RK464N/

The Coliseum by Patrick Lestewka

US – https://www.amazon.com/Coliseum-Patrick-Lestewka/dp/1889186902/

Rave by Konn Lavery

US – https://www.amazon.com/Rave-Konn-Lavery-ebook/dp/B08Y92C384/

Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris

US – https://www.amazon.com/Green-Fuse-Burning-Tiffany-Morris-ebook/dp/B0D98VL8WF/

Infested by C.M. Forest

US – https://www.amazon.com/Infested-Fast-Paced-Thriller-Horror-Novel-ebook/dp/B09SJ43GYK/

The Axe Remembers by Marcus Hawke

US – https://www.amazon.com/Axe-Remembers-Redwood-Ripper-Story-ebook/dp/B0D4XJJK31/

It Looks Like Dad by J. Krawczyk

Link – https://www.littleghostsbooks.com/product/it-looks-like-dad/992

Mountain Fast by S.J. Shank

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Fast-S-J-Shank-ebook/dp/B0D2BSZ8TS/

The Black Hunger by Nicholas Pullen

US – https://www.amazon.com/Black-Hunger-Nicholas-Pullen-ebook/dp/B0CTZSHQ8G/

False Bodies by J.R. McConvey

US – https://www.amazon.com/False-Bodies-J-R-McConvey-ebook/dp/B0DKB3W6TL/

Red X by David Demchuk

US – https://www.amazon.com/Red-X-Novel-David-Demchuk-ebook/dp/B08SW818Q7/

The Homecoming by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Homecoming-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B07GNVCRTW/

Woom by Duncan Ralston

US – https://www.amazon.com/Woom-Extreme-Psychological-Horror-Novel-ebook/dp/B075H3MRQ6/

Infestation by William Meikle

US – https://www.amazon.com/Infestation-S-Squad-Book-William-Meikle-ebook/dp/B0777HLL97/

The Girl Who Hid in the Trees by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Hid-Trees-ebook/dp/B07MJ851BH/

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Gargoyle-Andrew-Davidson-ebook/dp/B0031TZAO8/

The Troop by Nick Cutter

US – https://www.amazon.com/Troop-Nick-Cutter-ebook/dp/B00BSBR5DA/

The Guardians by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Guardians-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B004EBT6XS/

The Tunnelers by Geoff Gander

Link – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12040820-the-tunnelers

The Bear by Claire Cameron

US – https://www.amazon.com/Bear-Claire-Cameron-ebook/dp/B00F1W0R00/

Harmless by James Grainger

US – https://www.amazon.com/Harmless-James-Grainger-ebook/dp/B00NDTUB6I/

Survival Instinct by Kristal Stittle

US – https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Instinct-Kristal-Stittle-ebook/dp/B00BLH7XQ0/

The Killing Circle by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Circle-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B0031TZALQ/

Suffer the Children by Craig DiLouie

US – https://www.amazon.com/Suffer-Children-Craig-DiLouie-ebook/dp/B00DX0F4L4/

Cataract City by Craig Davidson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Cataract-City-Craig-Davidson-ebook/dp/B00CVS430M/

Fishing with the Devil by Rob Bose

US – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0994737823/

A God in the Shed by J-F. Dubeau

US – https://www.amazon.com/God-Shed-J-F-Dubeau-ebook/dp/B0721NVXSY/

The Bear Who Wouldn’t Leave by J.H. Moncrieff

US – https://www.amazon.com/Bear-Who-Wouldnt-Leave-ebook/dp/B06XBJ5NSK/

Beyond the Deep by Carson Fredriksen

US – https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Deep-Carson-Fredriksen-ebook/dp/B0DT9QN5TX/

Sycamore by Ian Rogers

US – https://www.amazon.com/Sycamore-Ian-Rogers-ebook/dp/B0DJDKB9PR/

Pushing Daisy by Christopher O’Halloran

US – https://www.amazon.com/Pushing-Daisy-Christopher-OHalloran-ebook/dp/B0F8SKYD95/

A Reviewer’s Guide to Writing Book Reviews by Rick Hipson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Reviewers-Guide-Writing-Book-Reviews-ebook/dp/B0D829VTTH/

Most Likely to Summon Nyhiloteph by Madison McSweeney

Link – https://www.littleghostsbooks.com/product/most-likely-to-summon-nyhiloteph/2028

The Bone Key by Mary Rajotte

US – https://www.amazon.com/Bone-Key-Mary-Rajotte-ebook/dp/B0CYBYJ1KZ/

I Will Wander On by Ron Prasad

US – https://www.amazon.com/WILL-WANDER-Terrifying-Tales-Death-ebook/dp/B0DGX5WMJR/

Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert

US – https://www.amazon.com/Death-Family-Shana-Merchant-Novel-ebook/dp/B07RZGJB86/

Those Who Dwell Below by Aviaq Johnston

US – https://www.amazon.com/Those-Dwell-Below-Aviaq-Johnston-ebook/dp/B08B1VYZ1M/

Cats Like Cream by Renee Miller

US – https://www.amazon.com/Retail-Cats-Cream-Higher-Learning-ebook/dp/B0F2GNZ69C/

Seven Days by Patrick Senecal

US – https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Days-Patrick-Sen%C3%A9cal-ebook/dp/B07GNVYDXB/

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

US – https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Crusted-Snow-Waubgeshig-Rice-ebook/dp/B07DWLKMS5/

One Of Us by Craig DiLouie

US – https://www.amazon.com/One-Us-Craig-DiLouie-ebook/dp/B0776QMHPT/

Spectral Evidence by Gemma Files

US – https://www.amazon.com/Spectral-Evidence-Gemma-Files-ebook/dp/B079ZC2V3L/

The Deep by Nick Cutter

US – https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Nick-Cutter-ebook/dp/B00J69Y5GQ/

The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Demonologist-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B00APJ0XYE/

Wagon Buddy by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Wagon-Buddy-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B07GXXLZF2/

Different Beasts by J.R. McConvey

US – https://www.amazon.com/Different-Beasts-J-R-McConvey-ebook/dp/B09VCXS5JV/

Mad Cow by Alexis Kienlen

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Cow-Alexis-Kienlen-ebook/dp/B086VTD8RT/

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mexican-Gothic-Silvia-Moreno-Garcia-ebook/dp/B07YK1K1YK/

Stranded by Renee Miller

US – https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Lake-Monster-Howl-Stranded-ebook/dp/B0DVDY3ZPG/

All the Things We Never See by Michael Kelly

Link – https://undertowpublications.com/ebooks/all-the-things-we-never-see-epub

The Bone Mother by David Demchuk

US – https://www.amazon.com/Bone-Mother-David-Demchuk-ebook/dp/B087DW5ZV5/

Shelter for the Damned by Mike Thorn

US – https://www.amazon.com/SHELTER-DAMNED-Mike-Thorn-ebook/dp/B08QNHMKRW/

The Nightshade Cabal by Chris Patrick Carolan

US – https://www.amazon.com/Nightshade-Cabal-Chris-Patrick-Carolan-ebook/dp/B08GN3G67N/

Acadia Event by MJ Preston

US – https://www.amazon.com/Acadia-Event-MJ-Preston-ebook/dp/B088WFXZX1/

Experimental Film by Gemma Files

US – https://www.amazon.com/Experimental-Film-Gemma-Files-ebook/dp/B08F9NT1K7/

The Ghost Sequences by A.C. Wise

Link – https://undertowpublications.com/ebooks/the-ghost-sequences-epub

We Spread by Iain Reid

US – https://www.amazon.com/We-Spread-Iain-Reid-ebook/dp/B09RX2LW56/

The Mud Man by Donna Marie West

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mud-Man-Donna-Marie-West-ebook/dp/B09TK3TLSZ/

Helpmeet by Naben Ruthnum

Link – https://undertowpublications.com/ebooks/helpmeet-epub

Soup by Kate DeJonge

US – https://www.amazon.com/Soup-Kate-DeJonge-ebook/dp/B09X8W4JLR/

A Time For Monsters by Mason McDonald

US – https://www.amazon.com/Time-Monsters-Mason-McDonald-ebook/dp/B09WHDPZKQ/

Black Bloom by Felix I.D. Dimaro

US – https://www.amazon.com/Black-Bloom-Felix-I-D-Dimaro-ebook/dp/B09VYT5JQ6/

These Long Teeth of the Night by Alexander Zelenyj

US – https://www.amazon.com/These-Teeth-Night-Alexander-Zelenyj-ebook/dp/B0C9W3L3H3/

All We Want is Everything by Andrew F. Sullivan

US – https://www.amazon.com/All-Want-Everything-Andrew-Sullivan/dp/1894037847

Little Heaven by Nick Cutter

US – https://www.amazon.com/Little-Heaven-Novel-Nick-Cutter-ebook/dp/B01CO34GCI/

The Damned by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Damned-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B00LD1OSMG/

Find You in the Dark by Nathan Ripley

US – https://www.amazon.com/Find-You-Dark-Nathan-Ripley-ebook/dp/B074ZR3NWN/

The Window in the Ground by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Window-Ground-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B08B455LRG/

The Miracle Sin by Marcus Hawke

US – https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Sin-Marcus-Hawke-ebook/dp/B08NHZGTY6/

The Walking Son by Eddie Generous

US – https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Son-Eddie-Generous-ebook/dp/B092RP7CWR/

Vindictive by Ryan Lawrence

US – https://www.amazon.com/Vindictive-Ryan-Lawrence-ebook/dp/B09HFZ4C56/

Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth

US – https://www.amazon.com/Motherthing-Ainslie-Hogarth/dp/0593467027/

Lure by Tim McGregor

US – https://www.amazon.com/Lure-Tim-McGregor-ebook/dp/B0B2V3PX3J/

Every House is Haunted by Ian Rogers

US – https://www.amazon.com/Every-House-Haunted-Ian-Rogers-ebook/dp/B0BGZ1NVY4/

Dollhouse by Andrew McManaman

US – https://www.amazon.com/Dollhouse-Andrew-McManaman-ebook/dp/B09KNS9P2G/

Amy by R.W. Duder

US – https://www.amazon.com/Amy-RW-Duder-ebook/dp/B0B5FFZC83/

The Marigold by Andrew F. Sullivan

US – https://www.amazon.com/Marigold-Andrew-F-Sullivan-ebook/dp/B0BLJ3STLT/

Ghostland by Duncan Ralston

US – https://www.amazon.com/Ghostland-Duncan-Ralston-ebook/dp/B07ZTWN79D/

To Die Alone in the Yukon by Lynn Berk

US – https://www.amazon.com/Die-Alone-Yukon-Lynn-Berk-ebook/dp/B0781JD7N3/

The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Saturday-Night-Ghost-Club-Novel-ebook/dp/B077CSX3GD/

A Book of Tongues by Gemma Files

US – https://www.amazon.com/Book-Tongues-Hexslinger-1-ebook/dp/B08F9G6182/

Hollow by Rhonda Parrish

US – https://www.amazon.com/Hollow-Rhonda-Parrish-ebook/dp/B07YSX5YGT/

Brand New Dark by Beau Johnson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Brand-New-Dark-Beau-Johnson-ebook/dp/B0971T9F6F/

Seventeen Skulls by Joe Powers

US – https://www.amazon.com/Seventeen-Skulls-Joe-Powers-ebook/dp/B0F8FMGLY9/

Birds in the Black Water by Kodie Van Dusen

US – https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Black-Water-Paranormal-Drama-ebook/dp/B0B832WGS9/

The Handyman Method by Nick Cutter & Andrew F. Sullivan

US – https://www.amazon.com/Handyman-Method-Story-Terror-ebook/dp/B0BHTPDMH7/

The Belize Experience by James Seamone

US – https://www.amazon.com/Belize-Experience-Loosely-based-events-ebook/dp/B0BC4R2SQV/

Linghun by Ai Jiang

US – https://www.amazon.com/Linghun-Ai-Jiang-ebook/dp/B0DJDGRMFR/

A Strange Little Place by Brennan Storr

US – https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Little-Place-Paranormal-Revelstoke-ebook/dp/B0BK5BKQTT/

The Mouth is a Coven by Liz Worth

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mouth-Coven-Liz-Worth-ebook/dp/B0B6GMTP3W/

The Fire on Memory Lane by Felix I.D. Dimaro

US – https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Memory-Lane-Felix-Dimaro-ebook/dp/B09BXDSHGR/

Scarewaves by Trevor Henderson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Scarewaves-Trevor-Henderson-ebook/dp/B0BNPGXD14/

Devil Music by Joseph Mulak

US – https://www.amazon.com/Devil-Music-Secret-Dempsey-Manor-ebook/dp/B0BJ1ZTGZM/

The Other Ones by Jamesie Fournier

US – https://www.amazon.com/Other-Ones-Jamesie-Fournier-ebook/dp/B0C632XSB1/

Apparitions by Adam Pottle

US – https://www.amazon.com/Apparitions-Adam-Pottle-ebook/dp/B0DKYS7G2W/

Cutter’s Deep by Ronald McGillvray

US – https://www.amazon.com/CUTTERS-DEEP-WELCOME-Ronald-McGillvray-ebook/dp/B0BYM5H3NY/

Agony’s Lodestone by Laura Keating

US – https://www.amazon.com/Agonys-Lodestone-Laura-Keating-ebook/dp/B0BZWD45JT/

Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice

US – https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Turning-Leaves-Waubgeshig-Rice-ebook/dp/B0BZ3L7RGD/

Not For This World by Steve & Auryn Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Not-This-World-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B0FBLFSCC8/

Father of Lies by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Father-Lies-Complete-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B09854197X/

Of Witches… by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B08FVD3K8T/

Mastodon by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Mastodon-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B09N43LVK9/

Churn the Soil by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Churn-Soil-Pulse-Pounding-High-Stakes-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B0BLLYDK4Z/

The Color of Melancholy by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Color-Melancholy-Examination-Intersected-Through-ebook/dp/B0C15CZMC7/

When I Look at the Sky, All I See Are Stars by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/When-Look-Sky-All-Stars-ebook/dp/B0D9FJF2VH/

The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard

US – https://www.amazon.com/Other-Valley-Scott-Alexander-Howard-ebook/dp/B0C7RM1TFB/

Sacrifice of the Sister’s Lot by Chris Kuriata

US – https://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Sisters-Lot-Chris-Kuriata-ebook/dp/B0CTD74D9B/

Grey Dog by Elliot Gish

US – https://www.amazon.com/Grey-Dog-Elliott-Gish-ebook/dp/B0CP6B75K5/

The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed

US – https://www.amazon.com/Butcher-Forest-Premee-Mohamed-ebook/dp/B0C1X7W5B2/

Puzzle House by Duncan Ralston

US – https://www.amazon.com/Puzzle-House-Duncan-Ralston-ebook/dp/B0F9FTQCMH/

Withered by A.G.A Wilmot

US – https://www.amazon.com/Withered-G-Wilmot-ebook/dp/B0CP6C9X6J/

Metal Demon by Julie Hiner

US – https://www.amazon.com/Metal-Demon-Julie-Hiner-ebook/dp/B0CLKZ85Z6/

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

US – https://www.amazon.com/We-Used-Live-Here-Novel-ebook/dp/B0CL5F8GXF/

Eynhallow by Tim McGregor

US – https://www.amazon.com/Eynhallow-Tim-McGregor-ebook/dp/B0CVKP8Q7V/

The God Damn Dead by Colt Skinner

US – https://www.amazon.com/God-Damn-Dead-Colt-Skinner-ebook/dp/B0CKKB5CQX/

The Queen by Nick Cutter

US – https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Novel-Nick-Cutter-ebook/dp/B0CL5DXMVL/

The Exchange and Other Calamities by Mallory McCartney

US – https://www.amazon.com/Exchange-Other-Calamities-Mallory-McCartney-ebook/dp/B0DYWD1PPW/

William by Mason Coile

US – https://www.amazon.com/William-Mason-Coile-ebook/dp/B0CPDSTZZM/

The Station Master of New Brook West by Robert Couttreau

US – https://www.amazon.com/Station-Master-New-Brook-West-ebook/dp/B0D1CPVCZ8/

Wheetago War: Roth by Richard Van Camp

US – https://www.amazon.com/Wheetago-War-Richard-Van-Camp-ebook/dp/B0D1YCTXK3/

Coup de Grace by Sofia Arjam

US – https://www.amazon.com/Coup-Gr%C3%A2ce-Sofia-Ajram-ebook/dp/B0CR9P6Q6B/

Skull Daddy by Stephanie Anne

US – https://www.amazon.com/Skull-Daddy-Stephanie-Anne-ebook/dp/B0D5TYBMQV/

The Butcher’s Daughter: The Hitherto Untold Story of Mrs. Lovett by David Demchuk & Corinne Leigh Clark

US – https://www.amazon.com/Butchers-Daughter-Hitherto-Untold-Lovett-ebook/dp/B0CWLRX5CR/

The Roots Run Deep by C.M. Forest

US – https://www.amazon.com/Roots-Run-Deep-Horror-Collection-ebook/dp/B0DCP6NW5L/

The Invisible by Steve Stred

US – https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B0DHHW4ZTD/

What Happened at Blackthorn by Madison McSweeney

US – https://www.amazon.com/What-Happened-Blackthorn-Madison-McSweeney-ebook/dp/B0DS2Y1S3H/

Exiles by Mason Coile

US – https://www.amazon.com/Exiles-Mason-Coile-ebook/dp/B0DQNB74ND/

Red Laces by Colt Skinner

US – https://www.amazon.com/Red-Laces-Colt-Skinner-ebook/dp/B0DF49N75B/

Grey by Ian Rogers

US – https://www.amazon.com/Grey-Ian-Rogers/dp/1803944811/

The Sweep by Dustin Ekman

US – https://www.amazon.com/Sweep-Dustin-Ekman/dp/1069275409/

Beware Us Flowers of the Annihilator by Alexander Zelenyj

US – https://www.amazon.com/Beware-Flowers-Annihilator-Alexander-Zelenyj-ebook/dp/B0F1TZKWN3/

Reality Squall by J. Krawczyk

US – https://www.amazon.com/Reality-Squall-J-Krawczyk-ebook/dp/B0D9KPYXPK/

The Preserve by Patrick Lestewka

US – https://www.amazon.com/Preserve-Patrick-Lestewka/dp/1453842446/

Haunted Canada by Pat Hancock

US – https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Canada-True-Ghost-Stories/dp/0779114108/

Pontypool Changes Everything by Tony Burgess

US – https://www.amazon.com/Pontypool-Changes-Everything-Tony-Burgess-ebook/dp/B00B0SA85I/

Lost Girls by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Girls-Novel-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B0055DKS90/

The Night Wanderer by Drew Hayden Taylor

US – https://www.amazon.com/Night-Wanderer-Native-Gothic-Novel-ebook/dp/B00GC4HE5M/

Bonechiller by Graham McNamee

US –

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

US – https://www.amazon.com/Darkest-Powers-Book-Summoning-ebook/dp/B0031TZ9N0/

The Sleep Experiment by Jeremy Bates

US – https://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Experiment-edge-your-seat-psychological-ebook/dp/B07SC83P32/

Wasps in the Ice Cream by Tim McGregor

US – https://www.amazon.com/Wasps-Ice-Cream-Tim-McGregor-ebook/dp/B0BRLDM5TZ/

The Doom That Came to Mellonville by Madison McSweeney

US – https://www.amazon.com/Doom-that-Came-Mellonville-ebook/dp/B09DN6GRJR/

We All Fall Before the Harvest by C.M. Forest

Link – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61057388-we-all-fall-before-the-harvest

Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie

US – https://www.amazon.com/Episode-Thirteen-Craig-DiLouie-ebook/dp/B09ZB6C8TV/

Old Man Rider by Beau Johnson

US – https://www.amazon.com/Old-Man-Rider-Bishop-Book-ebook/dp/B0B8JZQT5L/

Peel Back and See by Mike Thorn

US – https://www.amazon.com/Peel-Back-See-Mike-Thorn-ebook/dp/B09H6B8372/

The Kind to Kill by Tessa Wegert

US – https://www.amazon.com/Kind-Kill-Shana-Merchant-Novel-ebook/dp/B0B4P47CVG

How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive by Craig DiLouie

US – https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Horror-Movie-Survive-ebook/dp/B0CK8BTKK8/

Soft Places by Betty Rocksteady

US – https://www.amazon.com/Soft-Places-Betty-Rocksteady-ebook/dp/B0BKH4CWP2/

Death Trap by Ayralea Lander

US – https://www.amazon.com/Death-Trap-Ayralea-Lander-ebook/dp/B0CV5V79RX/

Bad Blood by Tobin Elliot

US – https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Blood-First-Book-Aphotic-ebook/dp/B0BGM62XNK/

Tales From the Parkland by Ronald McGillvray

US – https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Parkland-Collection-Supernatural-Stories-ebook/dp/B0CXZS2R4F/

Crystal Moth Conspiracy by Konn Lavery

US – https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Moth-Conspiracy-Born-Book-ebook/dp/B0C4QV15TM/

Into the Storm by Shane Kroetsch

US – https://www.amazon.com/Into-Storm-Shane-Kroetsch-ebook/dp/B0867ZHCF2

Those Who Came Before by J.H. Moncrieff

US – https://www.amazon.com/Those-Before-Fiction-Without-Frontiers-ebook/dp/B07XPDNFL2/

Claw by Katie Berry

https://www.amazon.com/CLAW-Canadian-Thriller-Katie-Berry-ebook/dp/B081R1SND1/

A Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay

US – https://www.amazon.com/Noise-Downstairs-Linwood-Barclay-ebook/dp/B0776JC5PN/

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

US – https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Down-Motel-Simone-James-ebook/dp/B07S1K42R2/

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

US – https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Ending-Things-Iain-Reid-ebook/dp/B017I25CZU/

The Only Child by Andrew Pyper

https://www.amazon.com/Only-Child-Novel-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B01M2BRJ6G/

In That Endlessness, Our End by Gemma Files

US – https://www.amazon.com/That-Endlessness-Our-End/dp/0578759764/

Hearts Strange and Dreadful by Tim McGregor

US – https://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Strange-Dreadful-Tim-McGregor/dp/0578840510/

The Residence by Andrew Pyper

US – https://www.amazon.com/Residence-Andrew-Pyper-ebook/dp/B084GBDWJ8/

The Restoration by J.H. Moncrieff

US – https://www.amazon.com/Restoration-J-H-Moncrieff-ebook/dp/B08Z3C2PJQ/

Darkest Hours by Mike Thorn

US – https://www.amazon.com/Darkest-Hours-Expanded-Mike-Thorn-ebook/dp/B09H66PLFK/

Find You First by Linwood Barclay

US – https://www.amazon.com/Find-You-First-Linwood-Barclay-ebook/dp/B08FKGG1HS/

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

US – https://www.amazon.com/Book-Cold-Cases-Simone-James-ebook/dp/B097B3MDXJ/

Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay

US – https://www.amazon.com/Never-Look-Away-Linwood-Barclay-ebook/dp/B003ALA6HI/

The Children of Red Peak by Craig DiLouie

US – https://www.amazon.com/Children-Red-Peak-Craig-DiLouie-ebook/dp/B085C788FB/

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

US – https://www.amazon.com/Handmaids-Tale-Margaret-Atwood-ebook/dp/B004GHN8I4/

All of Them to Burn by Beau Johnson

US – https://www.amazon.com/All-Them-Burn-Beau-Johnson-ebook/dp/B08366P9TR/

Terror in High Water by Joe Powers

US – https://www.amazon.com/Terror-High-Water-Joe-Powers-ebook/dp/B0F8J914ZY/

Beneath the Rising by Premee Mohamed

US – https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Rising-Premee-Mohamed-ebook/dp/B083ZG22LG/

In Dreams We Rot by Betty Rocksteady

US – https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-We-Rot-Betty-Rocksteady-ebook/dp/B0CSPTT3P3/

Book Review: Sisters DeRosa by L.J. Dougherty

Title: Sisters DeRosa

Author: L.J. Dougherty

Release date: August 1st, 2025

*Huge thanks to L.J. for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*

Over the last number of years, Dougherty has worked hard to create himself a horror-niche that I could only describe as European Giallo-esque. With his espionage trilogy, as well as his novel, ‘Daughters of Cruelty,’ L.J. has cemented his styling as that with well detailed, Euro set pieces and engagement, while also utilizing fantastic amounts of 70’s flair. Harkening back to a time where every alley housed a criminal and every woman carried a set of Double D’s with a pistol strapped to their garter belt.

And you know what – it works. It really works.

And I say that as someone who never liked spy or espionage stuff growing up. I wasn’t drawn to the James Bond world or the action adventure thrillers where a heist takes place and the race is on to track down the bad guys.

But somehow, Dougherty has managed to wrap his fingers around me and make me not only read and enjoy these books, but to also love them. The outlier of his bibliography is, of course, ‘Woodhaven,’ which is a phenomenal piece of isolation/dystopian horror, and I highly recommend you give that one a go too.

But with ‘Sisters DeRosa,’ Dougherty took what he built in the finale of his trilogy, in ‘Blood Opus,’ and ramped it up, churning out a demonic-cult horror novel that was equal parts erotica and espionage. This novel really showcases Dougherty’s screenwriting sensibilities as we get a novel ripe for cinematic adaptation.

What I liked: The novel follows Viv, a young woman struggling to find her way in New York. She was going to art college, but had to drop out due to cost and now works as a barista. She was born in Italy, but a moment as a youngster in a church sullied any desire she has of ever returning. But return she must, as her brother is now married and expecting his first child and has invited her over for a visit.

After checking into her hotel, she hears an argument in an alley outside and intervenes, inadvertently stepping into the deep end of something she could never have predicted. It’s here she meets Luna, who has run away from a convent, after discovering it’s not really a place for women to become nuns, but rather a front for a demon worshipping cult. She’s now set on returning and rescuing her younger sister.

Dougherty sets things up well and we see Luna and Viv connect, while also seeing a bunch of moving parts reveal themselves. The cult runs deep, infiltrating every avenue of the world around them and as they get closer to finding Luna’s sister, we begin to slowly learn the truth about what happened in that church all those years ago. A moment that’s forever stained Viv.

The final quarter of the novel is one big explosive finale. Frankly, it was awesome. We see truths revealed, loyalties tested and how Viv and Luna must make huge sacrifices in order to remain together and keep each other safe. I think it’s fair to say that while the first seventy-five percent of this was influenced by 70’s and 80’s religious horror, the final twenty-five percent was a Clive Barker comic book splattered across the written page. It was gloriously insane.

What I didn’t like: As odd as this sounds, I wasn’t overly fond of the epilogue. I’m not sure if it was the location where it takes place – and staying spoiler free means I can’t reveal that – but it felt like there was a marked attempt at ‘elevating’ the way some of the characters spoke and, for me at least, it just didn’t hit home like I think it was supposed to. Saying that, I liked where things went, I just wasn’t a fan of the dialogue adjustment.

Why you should buy this: Much like S.J. Shank has worked his magic on historical/fantasy/horror and Joseph Sale has revamped fantasy/imaginative/horror, Dougherty has really cemented himself as a leader in 70’s influenced Euro/Giallo horror. Between him and David Sodergren, we’re getting some phenomenal entries into a world that seemed to fade away from the written page, while going through a revival on film, but Dougherty has brought it back full force.

This book was dark, delicious, uncomfortable and brutal, all in equally pleasant doses.

I can’t recommend this one enough. It was phenomenally captivating.