Lee Cushing's Blog, page 2

Phantom Hearts

When students in Malia's class are killed in a bus crash driven by her father, he survives but into a coma. As her father is blamed for the crash, Malia endeavors to prove his innocence. Together with the local mechanic's daughter Keezy, who is also Malia's crush, they investigate the lives of the deceased students and uncover potential motives for their murders. An added twist is that the ghosts of the students visit Malia to assist in identifying their killer. Malia is conflicted between her growing feelings for Keezy, the quest to the murderer, and her guilt over not visiting her father in the hospital. The pressures of school, family, friends, and uncovering the truth about the crash weigh heavily on Malia, with her only solace being her time with Keezy. She grapples with whether to express her feelings for Keezy or if doing so would add to the chaos in her life.

The premise of this graphic novel fascinated me. The incredibly detailed graphics added extra depth to the story and brought the to life (no pun intended). It's a cross between Cemetery Boys, Heartstopper, and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. I loved those stories and felt this novel had the best aspects of each. I loved how the ghosts came to Malia to settle their unresolved issues, in turn helps her investigate the crash and with her own problems. The story addressed important topics such as drug addiction, coming out, transitioning, school/career pressures, and family issues. I quickly connected with Malia and rooted for her to find her way, while also hoping that the romantic storyline Keezy would work out. They were super sweet together.

The ghosts - Russ, Shepard, and Emil were all very different, complex and at times flawed characters but ones that pulled you in and made you want to know their stories. I loved how Malia and Keezy interacted with them as the dialogue was snarky, frank, and hilarious in certain moments. That said, big heads up for the ending, which was bittersweet, emotional, yet hopeful. Overall, a poignant and beautifully drawn story.

Peter Cushing Autobiography

This was a gentle ramble through the great Peter Cushing's career, an actor I've always admired greatly. It was having afternoon tea a nice old uncle: not a bad word to say about anybody. Lee said that Peter Cushing, who was his great friend, never had a bad word say about anyone, an admirable quality indeed but one which makes for very poor autobiography. scant details about his film career and even Biggles, his final film, which is regarded one of worst British movies ever made, mentioned only because Mr. Cushing was a walking stick he admired the prop department. found fact that he believed his long-dead wife was always at side to be somewhat off-putting, and when he some of his friends for still addressing greeting cards to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cushing though his wife had been dead for many years, I found it decidedly creepy. All in all, I think Cushing was just too much of a nice gentleman to write interesting autobiography.

Dracula's Brothers

This is the third book in the "Dracula Returns" series. To the best of my knowledge, there are nine in total, and I would strongly recommend reading the previous two books first.
In this story, a pair of villainous brothers have created a flock of mutant vampire bats and are sending them to kill people until the government pays them a ransom. Naturally, Professor Harmon tries to persuade Dracula to dispose of both the bats and the brothers. However, Dracula is reluctant to harm the bats because he feels a kind of kinship with them.
Like the other novels in the series, this one is light on character development, with the focus being on the action and plot. fact, even though it is classified as a horror, it reads more like one of the old pulp stories from the 1930s and 1940s. I don't think there is anything wrong with that, and I stories like this a fun bit of escapism. Dracula himself is thoroughly evil, just the way I like him, and only helps the good guys because of a deadly device surgically implanted next to his heart.
Overall, it is a short, fast-paced action/horror novel, and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.

Judge Dredd - Volume 1

Volume 1 includes the initial introductory Dredd stories, the Call-Me-Kenneth robot revolution, Return of Rico, the Luna period, and ends with Dredd returning to MC1 in time for the Cursed saga. Also included are the first unpublished Dredd by Esquerra and a selection of Walter the Wobot one-pagers.

Volume 2 features the excellent Cursed Earth and Judge Caligula epics back to back and ends with the three-parter The DNA Man.

Volume 3 returns to shorter storylines and includes Judge Death, Father Earth, Umpty Candy, The Blood of Satanus. These are all good stories, although this volume is one of the thinner ones, and it must be said that the reproduction isn't very good in parts. The backgrounds some frames are lost completely, and some of the best art in Dredd ends up looking pretty pedestrian. Sticklers may be better off seeking out the superior image quality of the Titan publications.

Volume4 includes the excellent Judge saga, Otto Sump, The Fink, Pirates of the Black Atlantic, and Chopper first appearance.

Volume 5 includes Block Mania and the epic Apocalypse War.

6 follows the conclusion of the Apocalypse War with Meka City, Fungus, and Destiny's Angels, and then it's back to reasonably good shorter storylines with Rabid, Blobs Night of the Rad Beast, the slightly naff Starborn Thing, The Stupid Gun, Trapper Hag, the good Shanty Town, and a real forgotten gem, The Executioner.

Volume 8 includes some multiters but no epics - Cry of the Werewolf, the classic fatty eating saga Requiem for a Heavyweight, The Graveyard Shift, Bob & Carol & Ted & Ringo, The Haunting of Sector House 9, Citizen Snork, and numerous okay single-episode stories. This volume marks a changing of the guard in terms of artists with the introduction of Cam Kennedy and Jim Baikie.

The print reproduction is generally good, but some pages suffer badly, and some really great art is made to look very ordinary, particularly when toner is used.

Supernatural - Witches Canyon

The second novel for Supernatural follows the Winchesters as they leave the hustle and bustle of New York behind and head to a remote location in Arizona. This novel directly follows the events of 'Supernatural: Nevermore,' but aside from a brief mention of a character from the previous novel in the introductory chapter, the two books are not otherwise linked.

Without giving away the plot, Sam and Dean get a-up a string of gruesome murders that happen every forty years in a small Arizona town, so the Winchester brothers decide to check it out. They show up just in time for first murder, and as the bodies start piling up, Sam and Dean have to figure out who's behind it and how to put a stop to it.

A great novel. It was an easy read with a well-paced plot. My one criticism would be that after all the build-up, the ending felt rushed and somewhat abrupt. The characterization of Sam and Dean was mostly true to their portrayal in the series. One of the strengths of the book was the dialogue, especially between them, which was convincing enough that it was easy to imagine the actors' voices speaking the lines. Additionally, there were a few brief flashbacks to the brothers' childhood that provided some background. Supporting characters, even those who were soon to become victims, were well-described and more than just ciphers.

In terms of TV tie-in novels, I would classify this as one of the superior examples.

The Saint Meets His Match Review

"She Was a Lady" (also known "The Saint Meets His Match" or "The Angels Doom") is one of the few Saint books from this period that does not feature Patricia Holm. Apparently, this is because it was originally not a Saint story but was adapted from one written before the author decided on the Saint as his main character. (Filmed as The Saint Takes Over with George Sanders)

However, the adaptation of this full-length story, which involves a battle of wits with a girl seeking revenge for the framing and subsequent suicide of her father, is comprehensive. The Saint's constant adversary, Claud Eustace Teal, is seamlessly integrated into the story, which is told with the author's usual sharp wit. Slinky Dyson and Snake Ganning, both from "Enter the Saint," make cameo appearances.

In the end, we realize the and James Bond more similarities we ever imagined. It turns out they both have a for saving the day, an irresistible, and an uncanny ability to look in a suit, no matter the chaos around them. Who knew that their suave ex, they were practically twins separated birth?

The Legedary Hammer

This well book chronicles the history of one of Britain's most prolific film studios, from their humble beginnings as a small distribution company to becoming the studio that won the Queen's Award for Industry. From "The Quatermass Xperiment" in1955 and then "Curse of Frankenstein" and "Dracula" through to their later, campier films such as "Vampire Lovers" and "Captain Kronos," this is an informative read. Lavishly illustrated with color stills and film posters from each production, it provides information on Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Hammer Glamour, Bray Studios, and some of the non-gothic films they produced.
Even if you, like me, have read extensively on Hammer, this is still reading. Highly recommended.

Beware of scammers and fake accounts

Over the last week I have been hit by scammers out to ruin the reputation of series authors by deliberately giving 1 star rating (with no reviews) They are easy to spot because they have no profile picture and none have even read the book - Take everything they say with a pinch of salt

Jubbokko - The Vampire Tree

Pulling one of the rolled up sleeping bags from the back of his range rover, David Lindsay handed it to Julya Smith standing behind him.
He watched her unzipping the mesh door to the nearest tent, focusing on the long legs emerging from under the pair of tiny shorts that she was wearing.
Grabbing the remaining sleeping bags from next to the guy sleeping in the back of the range rover, he walked to one of the other tents set up on the grass. Coughing outside the zipped up door, he waited for it to open.
“Go away.” The female voice from inside the tent was followed by giggling.
David remained standing outside, “Harry, I’ve got your sleeping bag out here.”
“Hang on.”
After about a minute, the door was unzipped and Harriet Dicks popped her head out, snatching one of the rolled up sleeping bags from his grasp.
Half hidden under a blanket inside the tent, Freddie Cheetham waved at him quickly as Harriet zipped the door back up.
He approached the last tent, only half erected in the shade of a tree. “Want a hand?”
“I can manage, thanks anyway.” Monica Price glanced towards the back of the range rover, “Sleeping beauty hasn’t woken up then?”
David looked back, “Brian always said he could sleep through anything.”
“Probably just faking.” Monica smiled, “I’ll bet you he suddenly wake up when I’ve done all the hard work.”
“I’ll get him up.”
Watching David begin walking back towards the range rover, Monica hammered another peg into the ground. It fell to one side and she pulled it up out, “Come look at this.”
Turning about half way towards the range rover, David returned and looked down.
Glancing up at him, she showed him the peg. “It looks like blood.”
He grinned, “Maybe you killed a sleeping vampire.” Kneeling down, he took a long look at the small hole in the ground. “Probably caught some animal that has a home under there.”
“Like a bunny rabbit.” Monica continued looking at him, “I hope it’s okay.”
“Probably is.” He stood up, watching Julya removing the portable stove from the back of the range rover. “Looks it’s almost time for lunch. Why don’t you give Julya a hand and let me finish here?”
Monica nodded, “Okay.”
Watching her approach Julya and begin helping with pulling out the folding table, David turned his back on them and began hammering in another peg.

Dropping the paper plates into a black bin bag, David glanced at Monica and Brian.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”
Brian shook his head, “Let’s see, hiking out across the Scottish Highlands so you can pop the question to my sister at some out of the way beauty spot she’s always wanted to visit or staying here to set up everything up for when you get back. What do you think?”
“Okay, just make sure everything’s ready when we get back. I’ve spent weeks setting all this up, do not blow it for me.”
Monica grinned, “I’ll keep an eye on him, just in case he tries watching the footie.”
“I’ll see you later.” Heading to his tent, David unzipped the door. “Ready yet?”
“Just a minute.” Julya zipped up the little bag and slung it over her shoulder as she emerged from the tent. “All set.”
He glanced back at Brian and Monica as Julya began walking towards where Freddie and Harriet were waiting, giving Brian a quick and stern look.

Reaching the top of the hill overlooking the campsite, Julya gave David a quick kiss and began running down the path.
Walking up behind him, Freddie saw the camp looking the same as when they left. “I thought Monica would have stopped Brian screwing this up, guess I was wrong. Sorry, mate.”
David took his time walking down from the hill, “I’ll bloody kill him.”
Julya’s scream made him and Freddie begin running.
Reaching the tents, David saw her standing still. Approaching her, he turned to see what she was staring at.
Brian was lying slumped against the side of the tree by his tent, blood still dripping from the gaping wound on his chest onto one of the exposed roots of the tree.
“Where’s Monica?”
David glanced back at Freddie, “Check the tent.”
Approaching it, Freddie unzipped the door and looked inside.
Monica was lying face down on top of the open sleeping bag, a broken branch from the tree deeply impaled in her throat.
Stepping inside the tent, he covered her with the sleeping bag and returned outside. As soon as he looked at David and Julya, he shook his head.
“Damn.” David looked at each of the others in turn, “We’re getting the Hell out of here before this nutter comes back.”
Rushing into her tent, Harriet emerged with the blanket. “We should cover him before we go.”
David nodded, “Make it quick.”
Approaching Brian’s body, Harriet began to place the blanket over him.
The ground erupted as the roots of the tree began lashing around between Harriet and the others. One of the branches slithered around her throat and began to tighten.
Trying to rush past the flailing roots, he reached her as another branch ripped into her back. Trying to pry away the branch choking her, he felt more branches moving to hinder his attempt.
Rising in front of her, one of the roots tore into her abdomen. Falling back as Harriet was lifted away from him and flung away onto the ground several feet away from him, he watched more roots burst up through her flesh as she stopped moving.
Making a dash between the flailing roots back to where Freddie and Julya were standing, David’s foot was caught in one of the still unmoving roots and he smashed down onto his face.
Blood dripping from his nose, he looked up at Freddie and Julya.
Julya screamed when one of the roots shot up from the ground and plunged through his left eye.
Grabbing Julya’s wrist, Freddie pulled her towards the range rover. Dragging her to the passenger side, he opened the door and pushed her onto the seat.
Looking back at the tree’s flailing roots, he fastened her seatbelt and began rushing to the other side of the range rover.
One of the roots smashed through the windscreen and into Julya’s throat, pinning her to the leather seat.
Stumbling and scrambling away from the tree, he reached the road and glanced back at the tree in the distance, the flailing roots settling back into the ground.

Holmes and Adler

The story captivates from the very beginning quickly making clear that this is a typical novel featuring the genius of Holmes and the singer. It is a story of peril deceit, and hidden truths, but above all, it is a captivating romance that rivals the most ardent love stories ever told.

The narrative, exquisitely crafted in period-specific, was a sheer delight to read. The well-defined characters, alongside the vivid descriptions, greatly enhanced the authenticity of the era.

I loved it. A beautiful story that tugged at my heartstrings.
I would highly recommend it any to any lovers to period romances.