Glenn Rolfe's Blog, page 17

REVIEWS for CHASING GHOSTS

My latest book, CHASING GHOSTS (Sinister Grin Press), came out just under two weeks ago.  I set out to honor some of my horror idols (Richard Laymon and Brian Keene) with this piece, and judging from the early reviews, I just might be hitting my mark.

 

“Chasing Ghosts is a vicious backwoods romp that gives you nary a moment to collect your bearings. The narrative escalates quickly, savagely, maintaining the amped-up speed through to the finale. It’s a blast of a read, especially if you’re a root-for-the-antagonist type of fan.” – The Eyes of Madness

“Chasing Ghosts is a disturbing bloodbath, with some moments of extreme gore, and is an emotionally draining read, but it sure was a nice diversion.A bloody, disgusting read…I loved it!” -Frank Michaels Errington

“With shades of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th, Rolfe also summons his inner-Laymon and, in my opinion, outdoes what his predecessor couldn’t do.With Chasing Ghosts, the characters feel like people that we already know facing problems that you can honestly believe – a missing son, infidelity, working stiffs looking to blow off some steam on the weekend. It’s all there and done very well by Rolfe.” – Into The Macabre

“CHASING GHOSTS is gory, violent, and very, very scary. If you have a fear of isolated rural forested areas; if you ever wonder if the legends of backwoods inbreeding cannibalistic clans are true; if you just believe in genetic mutations; then this is the story for you.” – Mallory Heart Reviews

“There was a great predatory atmosphere going on. The anticipation of something being just around the corner but never quite sure just when, where or who was going to be next made it a very enjoyable read. There was a nice balance of detail and visuals with just enough given to allow you to picture the scene but at the time allowing the imagination to fill in the gaps, and boy was my imagination happy to oblige. I’ll be steering clear of the woods for a while.” – Scarlet’s Web

” Chasing Ghosts is a blistering, mile-a-minute ride into fear, desperation, and depravity. The villains, the notorious Cobb family, are suitably creepy, with a definite throwback to the near-primitive maniacs found in Richard Laymon’s mountain novels or Jack Ketchum’s cannibalistic ones.” – John Quick, author of Consequences

“(Glenn Rolfe)holds nothing back…with Chasing Ghosts, he brings us – for me at least – his most explicit horror story thus far. The violence is graphic and had me physically wincing. The story grabbed every one of my senses and the ending left me wondering … ” – Catherine Cavendish, author of The Devils Serenade and The Pendle Curse

 

Be sure to follow the reviews and the blog tour by clicking on the photo below:

Grab your own copy HERE

 

The Origins of OUT OF RANGE

 

In the days prior to the release of my new novella with Sinister Grin Press, CHASING GHOSTS, I put out a set of alien short stories called, OUT OF RANGE. Since most of the press and guest posts I’ll be doing on my promotional tours will be centered around CHASING GHOSTS, I figured I’d share some info on OUT OF RANGE here on my site.

When I heard from Max Booth III that Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing was doing an anthology called, LOST SIGNALS, I knew I had to write something for it. The very first thing that came to mind was the title, “Out of Range”.  I stole the title from an Ani DiFranco song. I wrote this story and absolutely loved it. I sent it in to Max and he messaged me this: “That was a hard one to let go, definitely. People will love it once you release it…” I mentioned  to him that it would go into my next collection. I was going to put that collection together this summer, but with two releases set for August and September, I decided to try something different. I had this one story that I loved, but I also had two other alien horror stories sitting around that I thought were awesome, as well. So, at the end of the day, I decided to put the  threesome together and release them for 99 cents.

Here’s a quick bit on each of the stories contained in OUT OF RANGE.

“Not of this World”

First, it’s a Danzig song, second, it was going to be the title of the next short story collection. When I decided to write a story to match that title, this is what came out. What I ended up with is the story of a pregnant couple that turns upside down in a horrible way. It is my ode to John Carpenter’s The Thing.  I thought, “What if that creature or something like it, landed in a suburban neighborhood instead of the icy Antarctica?”  I love how it turned out.

“The Astronauts”

This one is a step above a Flash Fiction piece. It is very short, but I think equally potent in its delivery. The aliens (the Astronauts) have come and taken over. The cluster of humans that are left are huddled together in little pockets and living in squalor. The aliens keeping track of their every move and every secret. I can’t tell you more without giving it away, so you’ll have to check it out. This story originally appeared for a week last year on Rich Duncan’s blog, The Horror Bookshelf. Rich is a supporter of my work and I thought it’d be cool to give him something special. Thanks again, Rich!

“Out of Range”

In this story, the aliens send a signal that they are coming….and it’s not exactly friendly. The story has more heart than the previous ones. I imagined what it would be like if single Glenn lived in this world and had to help take care of his niece and nephew. It was pretty easy to create the relationship between the main character and his niece, because I just imagined myself and my teenage niece, Jillian, in this setting. I believe this one to be the most well-rounded of the batch. The first is viscous, the second is thought-provoking, but “Out of Range” has a bit of it all.  Funny story, a reviewer who had just finished LOST SIGNALS read OUT OF RANGE a couple weeks later and mentioned in his review that it would have fit perfectly in the anthology.

The set is available now in eBook exclusively through Amazon. If you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you can nab a copy to read there, too.Reviews are welcome!  Good or bad, honesty works best.

You can grab a copy of OUT OF RANGE HERE

CHASING GHOSTS is also available in eBook and Print. Purchase a copy HERE 

And here is the over , cover art, cover copy, and Amazon link  for the LOST SIGNALS Anthology from Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing:

 

What’s that sound? Do you feel it?

The signals are already inside you. You never even had a chance.

A tome of horror fiction featuring radio waves, numbers stations, rogue transmissions, and other unimaginable sounds you only wish were fiction. Forget about what’s hiding in the shadows, and start worrying about what’s hiding in the dead air.

With stories by Matthew M. Bartlett, T.E. Grau, Joseph Bouthiette Jr., Josh Malerman, David James Keaton, Tony Burgess, Michael Paul Gonzalez, George Cotronis, Betty Rocksteady, Christopher Slatsky, Amanda Hard, Gabino Iglesias, Dyer Wilk, Ashlee Scheuerman, Matt Andrew, H.F. Arnold, John C. Foster, Vince Darcangelo, Regina Solomond, Joshua Chaplinsky, Damien Angelica Walters, Paul Michael Anderson, and James Newman. Also includes an introduction from World Fantasy-award-winning author, Scott Nicolay.

Purchase the eBook or Print edition of LOST SIGNALS HERE

 

 

 

RELEASE DAY! CHASING GHOSTS is HERE!

The Cobbs were ignorant woods-people that died off and left nothing to fear. Locals in Naples, Maine think they know this story. But are they wrong?

Luke Howard and his mom move to Naples and Luke’s eager to make new friends. When Jason and Davey invite him out to the abandoned Cobb place for a game they call “chasing ghosts,” he’s ready and willing. However, the boys will come to discover that some vacant houses are better left to die alone.

Meanwhile, a punk band set to play in a rented cabin out of town feel eyes upon them. Somebody’s watching, but not their usual audience. When their lead singer strays too far from the group and disappears, his band mates set out in the darkness to find him.

Police Chief Walt Henderson is about to discover that there’s more going on out in the woods of his town than he ever imagined.

Chasing ghosts is more than just some children’s game.

GET YOUR COPY HERE

Yes, the day is here. My latest novella, CHASING GHOSTS (Sinister Grin Press), is out today and available in eBook and Print. This is my first piece for Sinister Grin Press and I think they are the perfect home for the piece. Last summer I started re-reading The Woods Are Dark by Richard Laymon. twenty pages in, I got the overwhelming urge to craft my own piece of Laymon-esque horror. He’s long been a favorite of mine, and I walked that Laymon line with my first novel, The Haunted Halls, but I hadn’t  written anything as rough as that since. Well, maybe some parts of Blood and Rain fit the bill, but as a whole, I purposely tried to force myself out of that box. Well, I was compelled to jump back in.

I dedicated this novella to Laymon, Brian Keene, Jack Kecthum, and Jonathan Janz. That should tell you the direction I wanted go in.  I’m not any of those amazing writers, but I sure had fun scribbling this little story into existence. I think it has that old Leisure Books paperback feel to it, and I hope, if you do decide to buy a copy,  it gives you a few hours of fun or at least makes you think twice about venturing to see your favorite band play a show in the woods.[image error]

Anyways, I hope you dig it, and as always, any shares/re-tweets/word-of-mouth is greatly appreciated. #SharetheHorror

You can follow all the forthcoming reviews and posts for the promotional tour (courtesy of Hook of a Book Media)  here:

 

And be sure to visit my Amazon page for some sweet 99 cent deals (Things We Fear and Out of Range) .   Glenn Rolfe at Amazon.com

 

Scares That Care: What a Weekend!

I recently attended my first Scares That Care Weekend. I have to start off by thanking fellow author and friend, Matt Manochio, who jumped in to save the day. I was about to cancel my trip when Matt stepped up and offered me a ride and a room. He said if I could make it to Jersey, he’d make sure we got there.

DAY ONE

We got to Virginia, set up, and then…I had to go run the 5K. It was hot as hell and I hadn’t run in some time, but I did my best and finished 56 out of over 150 participants. I’ll take that. So, I come back in sweaty and with a cool new Scares That Care t-shirt and a cool medal. I’m happy. Matt and I worked the table and made some sweet sales. By the end of the night, we were zonked.

DAY TWO

Saturday was great for sales. We moved a lot of units and met a lot of fine folks. I think I finally got face time with like four or five Good Reads/Facebook friends that I’d never met before. Brian and Nick are the first two that come to mind. Thanks, guys!

At five pm , it was time for Patrick Lacey and I to do our readings. We found out David Bernstein had come in too late to make his reading Friday, so we pulled him into ours.

We all read from our short story collections. Sleep Paralysis, A Mixed Bag of Blood, and Slush.

After the reading and before the mayhem….

And then…the party started. We (Patrick and Carissa, David and Sandy, and Matt and I) grabbed a table and got ready for some dinner, drinks (lots of drinks), and Scareyoke.

It was here that i got to hang for a few minutes with one of my favorite writers, Ronald Malfi. He also kicked up some ’90’s dust with a great rendition of a Live song. I got up and did Vacation by The Go Go’s.Matt Serafini and Adam Cesare also grabbed the mic for some Rocky Horror Picture Show and Grease tunes.

And drinks. Did I mention the drinks?

Yeah, it was pretty epic.

I stumbled across Bryan Smith and his new bride, Jen. We talked some Guns N’ Roses and somehow I started doing Ric Flair impressions until Bryan and Jen went back inside and some dudes I can’t remember let me share their Uber back to the Super 8.

From there, rather than put Matt through my possible puke moans, I stayed outside until I felt well enough to sleep without spinning. I ended up passing out on the sidewalk by our room and opening my eyes as the sun was just coming up.

 

DAY THREE (aka The Hangover 4)

I had to run around and let people know I survived. Matt took on a larger role as the salesman, letting me rest half-zoned out for the first few hours. Thank you again, Matt.

As the day headed to a close, I made my way to the bigger authors next door to our room. I got to chill for a bit with Kristopher Rufty, Ronald Malfi, and managed to squeeze in a quick hug with my bud, Jonathan Janz.

Then, I had a terrific conversation with Brian Keene. He bought a copy of my book and made me sign it.If you had told me in 2004, when I bought The Rising, that ten years later he’d be buying my book? Yeah, I would have told you to fuck off.

The gig was over. It was time to go home.

I suck at getting pictures during these types of events. The ones you see above were mostly from those I was hanging out with. Next time….next time…

Matt and I got back to Jersey by like 1 am. I left for Maine in the morning and got home safe and sound to my wife and three monkeys.

I have to say thanks (again) to Matt Manochio for everything. To my wife for letting me go do this. To Patrick and Carissa Lacey for being so damn cool. To David Bernstein and Sandy for also being wicked awesome. To all of those I met and hung out with. To all of those folks who bought copies of my books, and to Brian Keene and his guys that throw this whole event together. It’s to raise money for those in need, and it also gives us a place to chill out and get crazy.

AND…if you guys want to help out these families that Scares That Care take care of, you can do so year-round by going to this link: DONATE.

Until next year!

 

 

The Go Go’s Vacation from Myfanwi Meyrick on Vimeo.

New Release, New Deal: Aliens and Things We Fear– It’s a 99 cent summer!

I have two sweet deals for you!

I grew up loving alien movies. Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., Flight of the Navigator, the TV series, V. These started my love affair. Then I found Alien, The Thing, Fire in the Sky, and The Watch. There’s a billion others, but those are some of my favorites.

After years of listening to Art Bell and George Noory on Coast to Coast AM, I finally scribbled my first alien-themed tale, my novella, BOOM TOWN.  It just wasn’t enough.

Today, I present to you three more tales of extra-terrestrial horror….OUT of RANGE.

Edited by Erin Sweet-Al Mehairi (Hook of Book Media), with a fantastic cover from Jason Lynch (Jlynchgraphics.com), and an alien-tastic foreword by the great Hunter Shea (author of The Dover Demon and The Jersey Devil), this trio of alien/horror stories is coming at you for the nice price of 99 cents!

Featuring my stories: “Not of This World”, “The Astronauts”, and “Out of Range”

Grab you copy:   AMAZON US   AMAZON UK 

Also, my last novella, the thriller,  THINGS WE FEAR, is on sale until the end of August for 99 cents, too.

 

Summer has just begun, and fear is in season.

School’s out, and the faculty at Fairington Elementary School are free for the summer. Emily Young can’t deny her attraction to Aaron Jackson, the Ed Tech from her classroom, but she’s afraid of being hurt again. Meanwhile, Aaron is determined not to let his phobia of drowning prevent him from enjoying the sun and the sand of Maine’s best beach town.

But they’re about to learn real fear. Fairington is home to a monster. Phys Ed teacher Matt Holmes has more to offer the ladies than a perfect smile. He’s a killer and he’s got his sights set on Emily. Who at Fairington will conquer their fears? And who will fall to a psychopath’s hellbent rage?

“Things We Fear is a compulsively readable tale of obsession and dark suspense, with one of the creepiest villains I’ve encountered in recent years.” — Tim Waggoner, author of The Way of All Flesh and The Last Mile


“Whoa! Glenn Rolfe is on a roll! Following the success of his last book, Blood and Rain, he has another gripping story to tell, Things We Fear. This story has all the makings of a good horror flick. We have a plot within a plot that intersects at just the right moment. The chills are there, the characters are identifiable and the intensity of their actions all make for an entertaining time. All in all, well worth the price of admission!” – Horror Novel Reviews


“There is a definite old school feel about this novella. It isn’t an over the top gore-fest. Instead, what we have is a tense, psychological thriller that builds steadily towards a fitting climax.” – Ginger Nuts of Horror


“In this frighteningly real look at true horror, Rolfe manages to up the ante of tension while balancing genuinely heartbreaking moments, while showcasing his talent for creating unforgettable characters placed in equally unforgettable moments… a testament to Rolfe’s growing ability to spin a story that sets him apart from his peers and displays the talent of a horror author that wants to do far more than scare you – he also wants you to think.” – Beneath the Underground


“Glenn Rolfe’s new thriller (Things We Fear) is addictive. A quick, compelling read.” – Duncan Ralston,author of SALVAGE


“Things We Fear is a taught,character-driven tale of terror that delves way too close to reality and makes you wonder who may be watching you.” – David Bernstein, author of A Mixed Bag of Blood and Relic of Death

Grab a copy :   AMAZON   BARNES AND NOBLE

Some sweet summer deals!

Stay tuned for the release of my next horrorific novella, CHASING GHOSTS (Sinister Grin Press, Aug. 1st) and the re-release of my novel, THE HAUNTED HALLS (Matt Shaw Publications, Sept 3rd).

Also, I’ll be attending Scares That Care in Williamsburg, Virginia this coming weekend. Stop by the vendors room and find Matt Manochio and myself signing books and wearing masks–yeah, just look for Krampus and the Wolf Man!

 

Stay Frosty, people!

 

 

(INTERVIEW) SISTERS OF SLAUGHTER TALK MAYAN BLUE

At some point in mid-2015, I started hearing about these two sisters that wrote horror together. After the release of my novel, Blood and Rain, I was welcomed into the Facebook Wolf Pack. Among those first to welcome me was Michelle Garza (half of the Sisters of Slaughter- the Sisters of Slaughter moniker refers to Michelle and her twin sister, Melissa Lason). Michelle and I started up a pretty cool friendship and I’m grateful for it.

Fast forward just a bit and Michelle tells me that the Sisters of Slaughter will be putting out their first novel, MAYAN BLUE, with Sinister Grin Press. I got an early glimpse of the amazing cover and was totally on board.

The book came out a little earlier this summer. I started seeing lots of super positive reviews and my already high expectations grew. This could have been bad….it is so easy to get disappointed when your expectations are up in the clouds. I’m happy to confess MAYAN BLUE lived up to the hype. (You can peep my review HERE)

I was happy to get the opportunity to interview these awesome ladies. So, without further adu…..I give you, the Sisters of Slaughter (Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason)

Glenn Rolfe: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me! And thanks for writing such a great horror story. Let’s start with that novel (Mayan Blue from Sinister Grin Press).

I’ve read that you guys did a lot of research for it. I find the Mayan culture and people extremely fascinating which is a huge lure to a story like this. Of all the information you guys uncovered, what are a few of the things that really blew you away? And did they make it into the book?

Michelle Garza & Melissa Lason– There were definitely a few things that either didn’t make it in there or we changed a bit, like a few of the trials people are put through in Xibalba. For instance, the ball court where human heads were used as balls for the games and even a few of the underworld deities we weren’t able to add though they were really intriguing.

GR: I mentioned to you two the other day about an episode I saw of Expedition Unknown (Travel Channel) that I caught right as I was finishing up Mayan Blue. They focused on a pre-Aztec community built around the city of Teotihuacan. They found some cool tunnels and chambers beneath a pyramid and found that they had a huge mine of green obsidian.

Your Mayans do a lot of damage in this story with obsidian. Was it fun getting to dig into all this history and getting the opportunity to use some old weapons and legends that maybe we don’t see a lot of in horror? I mean, these guys seemed perfect for a story of this nature. How did it open up your creative freedom compared to a more traditional horror world like werewolves or serial killers?

M&M– We’ve always been fascinated with ancient civilizations, how they lived, who they prayed to and how they killed, so getting to use the obsidian daggers for removing organs was right up our alley. We really love mythology and often turn to it for inspiration so this book became a mixture of things we really dig. We also decided early on that our first novel had to be about something kinda unique so it would stand out and get people into reading our stuff, plus some guy wrote a book called “Blood and Rain” and we knew we couldn’t top it with any werewolf book we could possibly write.

COVER REVEAL: My Next Piece,CHASING GHOSTS

Cover Reveal for Chasing Ghosts by Glenn Rolfe

We are excited to announce the cover for Glenn Rolfe’s Chasing Ghosts, created by graphic artist Scott Carpenter, from Sinister Grin Press! Get your next Rolfe novel fix in August! Pre-order available now!

Chasing Ghosts, Synopsis

The Cobbs were ignorant woods-people that died off and left nothing to fear. Locals in Naples, Maine think they know the story. But are they wrong?

Luke Howard and his mom move to Naples and Luke’s eager to make new friends. When Jason and Davey invite him out to the abandoned Cobb place for a game they call “chasing ghosts,” he’s ready and willing. However, the boys will come to discover that some vacant houses are better left to die alone.

Meanwhile, a punk band set to play in a rented cabin out of town feel eyes upon them. Somebody’s watching, but not their usual audience. When their lead singer strays too far from the group and disappears, his band mates set out in the darkness to find him.

Police Chief Walt Henderson is about to discover that there’s more going on out in the woods of his town than he ever imagined.

Chasing ghosts is more than just some children’s game.

Pre-order now in E-book! Paperback and e-book to release later this month.

Kindle US

https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Ghosts-Glenn-Rolfe-ebook/dp/B01HYKVYRQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467684693&sr=1-2&keywords=sinister+Grin+Press#navbar

Universal Amazon

http://mybook.to/ChasingGhosts

　

Glenn Rolfe Biography

Glenn Rolfe is an author, singer, songwriter and all around fun loving guy from the haunted woods of New England. He has studied Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University and continues his education in the world of horror by devouring the novels of Stephen King and Richard Laymon.

He and his wife, Meghan, have three children, Ruby, Ramona, and Axl. He is grateful to be loved despite his weirdness.

He is the author the novellas, Abram’s Bridge, Boom Town, and his latest, Things We Fear (March, 2016), the short fiction collection, Slush, and the novels The Haunted Halls and Blood and Rain (October 2015). His first novella collection, Where Nightmares Begin, was also released in March 2016. His next book is Chasing Ghosts (August 2016) from Sinister Grin Press.

He is hard at work on many more. Stay tuned!

Sinister Grin Press

Find more information on Sinister Grin Press at www.sinistergrinpress.com. We have “horror that’ll carve a smile on your face.”

Kudos and Good luck to Hunter Shea (This is a re-blog from his site): Writing Full Time — Hunter Shea

Ever since I decided to become a writer, I’ve dreamed about what it would be like to pursue my passion full time. If I can write 2-3 books a year while juggling a day job, how much could I get done if I had all day to write? Well, that day has come. After a […]

via Writing Full Time — Hunter Shea

(REVIEW) Sleep Paralysis by Patrick Lacey is a collection you need. Seriosuly.

 

 

I don’t usually make it through short story collections very fast. I tend to get tired of the stories or want to read something bigger. I’ve read two wonderful collections this year. The first being David Bernstein’s A Mixed Bag of Blood, the other—Sleep Paralysis by Patrick Lacey.

I was introduced to Patrick Lacey via the story, “Pen Pals” (which is in this collection). I instantly loved his style. Throughout this collection of 18 tales, Lacey’s natural gift of storytelling is on full display. I don’t usually make it through short story collections very fast. I tend to get tired of the stories or want to read something bigger. I’ve read two wonderful collections this year. The first being David Bernstein’s A Mixed Bag of Blood, the other—SLEEP PARALYSIS by Patrick Lacey. 

Like Bernstein, Lacey is able to suck you right into each story and each character within the first page. More than half of these stories are good to great, even the lesser ones are still worthy of a read. I’ll focus on my ten favorites.

My 4-star stories:

“Drowning in Filth” is a great take on hoarders.

“Operation Parasite” and “Worm Garden” are a great one-two punch.

“Full Disclosure” is a cool ghost story that wasn’t quite like any other I’d read before.

My 5-star wonders!

“Pen Pals” was great the first time I read it in Pavor Nocturnus: A Dark Fiction Anthology Vol. 2 (an anthology I appeared in with Lacey) and it was stellar the second time around, too.

“The Lynwood Vampires” A fantastic culty, ‘Salem’s Lotty, type story that was freaking awesome.

“Lost and Found” I really loved this one, too. A kid witnesses a murder and finds the dead girl’s body…love where Lacey takes this.

My very, very favorites

“Last Words” This one really hit me. Not so much where Lacey decides to take it, but the set up itself. My father died from complications following a stroke, so does the main character’s dad. My wife’s name is Meghan (MC’s wife is Megan), and my mom’s name is Sheila (MC’s sister’s name). Top that off with my walking into the hospital room to find my sister balling after my dad passed and how I put my hurt aside to make sure she was okay… well, I was able to step right into this one.

Lacey saves a little secret that brings in the creepy factor, but for me, it’s the writing here that brings this one up above the others. I could swear Lacey walked in my shoes. Very cool and impressive.

”Send Your End” This one was my second favorite. A fantastically, creepy website where people film their own suicides and have them uploaded to this sick website.

This one was definitely dark, but well-written and completely captivating.

“First Bell” My favorite of the bunch.

“Eddie opens his eyes. The sun is far in the distance, making things seem pink and dreamlike. Part of him wants the world to be like this all the time. He wishes he could live the rest of his life in this pre-dawn twilight.”

Eddie is up early every day getting to school before the first bell rings. It’s here Eddie gets to see the girl he loves.

This one is very special and I’d rather not give anything away. I just thought it was brilliant from start to finish.

Overall, I give SLEEP PARALYSIS 4 stars! Can’t wait to see what Lacey gives us next. He is a supreme talent and the dude has a very bright future.

Grab the Kindle Edition of SLEEP PARALYSIS HERE

 

For a limited time, you can grab his Samhain Publishing novella, A DEBT TO BE PAID, for just 99 cents! Check out my review HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

Patrick Lacey was born and raised in a haunted house. He currently spends his nights and weekends writing about things that make the general public uncomfortable. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, his pomeranian, his cat, and his muse, who is likely trying to kill him.

Twitter: @patlacey

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.lace…

Blogspot: http://patrickclacey.wordpress.com/

Top Reads of 2016 (So far).

Wow, how is it July 1st already?

I’ve read some really awesome work in the first half of 2016, and I thought I’d share them with you. Now. there are plenty of books I expect to make this list at  year’s end (Tremblay, Malfi, Shea, and plenty of others have some great works out there or coming soon that I need to read), but these are the best of what I’ve read to date.

Novels

9. THE MONSTER UNDERNEATH– Matthew Franks

This debut from Samhain Publishing author, Matthew Franks, is an interesting psychological mash up of Criminal Minds, The Following, Silence of the Lambs, and something with a mind reader/dream invader. If you want to make a splash out the gate, I guess creating your own concoction that nobody has seen before is a good way to achieve that.

8. THE COMPLEX by Brian Keene

A lot of reviewers (myself included) mentioned how great is to see Keene return to form with this vicious, yet thoughtful horror ride. A gang of possessed people descend upon an apartment complex full of interesting characters. It pays to be on speaking terms with your neighbors! One of Keene’s short story character’s plays a major role in here, an added bonus for BK fans. I’m not sure THE COMPLEX will make my end of the year list, but I’m happy to see him back in any of my top lists.

7. CHILDREN OF THE DARK by Jonathan Janz

Janz delivers another strong effort. This one has him reaching into the coming-of-age bag and batting a solid hit. I’ve seen a lot of praise out there from the Janz-ites, and if you’re a big JJ fan, you will no doubt have this one on your 2016 list. COTD serves as a prequel to Janz’s SAVAGE SPECIES novel and I’m thinking we’re in for more from this universe. Stay tuned!

6. MAYAN BLUE by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason

Remember what I said about creating your own concoction to make that initial impact? Well, the “Sisters of Slaughter” have done just that. MAYAN BLUE has a very original story (Mayan ruins/artifacts in Georgia?) and showcases their unabashed taste in writing some pretty vicious scenes. I mentioned in my review how their style had me thinking back to Brian Keene’s original Leisure Books run. I stand by that statement.

5. THEY RISE by Hunter Shea

Hunter writes like he’s making these crazy horror/action movies. It’s perfect for that hungry horror bookworm who wants something good that reads like a match set to gasoline. This one has a lot of JAWS-like sensibilities which, I’m sure, suits Mr. Shea just fine. A great monster fish long thought extinct resurfaces and in numbers that would scare the bejesus out of any seaman…

4. PRINCE OF NIGHTMARES by John McNee

This is a haunted hotel story that reads like something hidden in Clive Barkers steamer chest. The writing is smooth and exciting, and the story  is just about perfect. The evil creations McNee uses, and the horrifying sights they show the guests in this ghost attraction hotel, are top notch and scary. I really loved this book.

3. NORTHWOODS by Bill Schweigart

This book is a sequel to a novel I have never read (Beast of Baycroft). That being said, I had no trouble or feelings of not knowing what was going on. A great sequel stands alone. Schweigart nails that model here in spades. I had a lot of fun reading this one and will go back and find the first book before Christmas.  If you like shapeshifters, cryptozoology, and action, you will love this! (Writing-wise, he could be Hunter Shea’s twin brother!)

2. DESOLATION by Kristopher Rufty

Definitely a contender for my Top 5 at the end of the year, Rufty’s DESOLATION really hit me in the guts. With the most heart-wrenching opening I’ve read in years, this novel dares to go straight for your soft spot. There’s revenge, there’s right and wrong, there’s a family trying to keep itself together while trying to avoid becoming chopped to bits…it’s pretty freaking great.  I loved this one. You should make time for it, too

1. MONGRELS by Stephen Graham Jones

I LOVED this book!  Sounds like I’ve had a pretty good 2016 in the reading world, right? Yes, I have. And MONGRELS top the list. SGJ writes this book like he has some sort of inside information on werewolves that the rest of us don’t. It’s not a fast and furious werewolf blood bath like Janz’s WOLF LAND (or that book that I wrote), but what it is is SOOO MUCH better. Not to kick any of the werewolf novels that came before it in the nuts, but I truly believe Mr. Jones is or knows a real wolf pack. This is just a wonderful piece of literature wearing a horror jacket and being really fucking cool. The story of a werewolf family and the challenges they face trying to stay under the radar in the world around the, and a boy waiting to see if he’s ever going to change. A really wonderful book and one that should make everyone’s Top 10 of 2016.

 

I’ll drop a few novellas and a collection that I really enjoyed here. Check out:

WOMAN IN WHITE by Kristin Dearborn

VICKI BEAUTIFUL by Somer Canon

THE WINTER BOX by Tim Waggoner

and FLESH AND FIRE by Lucas Mangum

(Mangum’s is part of Journal Stone’s double down collection, and is paired with a new Jonathan Maberry piece-BONUS!)

And don’t miss A MIXED BAG OF BLOOD by David Bernstein, a fantastic and imaginative collection of perfect horror.

 

To see all the books I’ve read so far this year, go check out GLENN’s GOOD READS CHALLENGE  (I will add this link later-my computer is acting fruity)

 

CHEERS!

-GR