Lee Allen's Blog, page 28
April 19, 2020
Ira Levin's The Stepford Wives - Review
The Stepford Wives by Ira LevinMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ira Levin’s chilling horror thriller, a satirical tale of patriarchy and latent misogyny, first published in 1972.
Joanna Eberhart has recently moved to the idyllic town of Stepford with her husband, Walter, and their two children. On the surface, Stepford is full of beauty – beautiful houses, beautiful gardens, beautiful neighbourhoods, beautiful women. Joanna hopes they can be happy here. She is a photographer and used to the bustle of city life. It isn’t long before feelings of discomfort creep in and she begins to believe that something sinister may lie beneath the veneer of Stepford.
Most of the women in town appear quite content with their roles as wives, mothers and domestic goddesses. Joanna despairs at the lack of independence, drive and substance to her female neighbours, while the men run the town from the heart of the Men’s Association. Still, she perseveres, continuing with her photography and becoming friends with two other women who thankfully are not the typical wives of Stepford.
Levin deftly builds on the underlying unease as Walter becomes more deeply involved with the activities of the Men’s Association. Tensions begin to develop in their marriage. Joanna meets some of the other members of the Men’s Association – amongst them an illustrator famous for drawing women to look their most (stereotypically) physically beautiful; a researcher of human speech; a pioneering designer of Disneyland robots. When the first of her friends undergoes a dramatic transformation over the course of a weekend spent with her husband, Joanna is both disturbed and suspicious.
Tension builds to terror as the truth about Stepford is revealed; Joanna desperately planning to escape before it is too late. The final scene is expertly disquieting, underscoring the satire in a way that is, of course, the most realistic for the time and still prevalent today.
Much like many of Levin’s novels, ‘The Stepford Wives’ has been adapted for the screen – first as a theatrical feature film in 1975, starring Katherine Ross. This spawned three television movie sequels – ‘Revenge of the Stepford Wives’ (1980); ‘The Stepford Children’ (1987); and ‘The Stepford Husbands’ (1996)’. A comedic remake, starring Nicole Kidman and Glenn Close, was released theatrically in 2004.
It has also inspired its own derogatory term – to call a woman a “Stepford Wife” is to label her submissive and conforming to the stereotypical subservient role where her husband’s needs, career and opinions come before her own. Indeed, “Stepford” has become more widely used as an adjective for anyone who appears to be blindly, almost robotically, obedient and conforms without question.
Both the novel and original film inspired much controversy – many feminist groups found it sexist and called for boycotts, despite the sub-text being very much anti-male establishment. Others may have appreciated that subtext, yet described it as a rip-off of the women’s movement. But controversy has done nothing to dent its enduring popularity; both the book and original film have become cult classics. Much of Levin’s work is hailed as a blueprint for the future of their respective genres, and ‘The Stepford Wives’ is no exception.
When you’re seeking escapism, nothing achieves it better than an Ira Levin classic – ‘The Stepford Wives’ is a taut and thrilling slice of sinister satire.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
April 11, 2020
Stephen King's The Outsider - Review
The Outsider by Stephen KingMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A gripping cocktail of police procedural and supernatural thriller from master of horror, Stephen King.
Detective Ralph Anderson is investigating a shocking child murder. The solution to the case appears clear-cut – forensic evidence and multiple witnesses point unequivocally to local baseball coach, Terry Maitland. Following a public arrest in front of the entire town, Terry swears his innocence, claiming to have been miles away when the crime took place. Of course, Ralph and DA Bill Samuels are unconvinced, given the evidence against him, making preparations for Terry’s arraignment.
Yet inconsistencies are beginning to worry Ralph. Meanwhile, Terry’s attorney enlists his own investigator to confirm Terry’s alibi. Evidence surfaces that appears to confirm the impossible – Terry was in two places at the same time. Deeply troubled, Ralph’s concerns grow as a large crowd gathers at Terry’s arraignment, baying for blood. Becoming increasingly out of control, it erupts with disastrous consequences – leaving Ralph battling with more questions, to which he is determined to find the answers.
So continues an investigation that will lead Ralph to question everything he believes, becoming part of a small group of people determined to uncover what led to the brutal murder of a child and how the impossible becomes possible.
As always with Stephen King’s novels, the reader is taken on a journey, one that develops at breakneck speed, but that pulls you in so deeply that you are immersed in the rich detail of the story and the lives of the multiple characters you meet along the way.
Holly Gibney, co-star of the Bill Hodges trilogy (Mr. Mercedes; Finders Keepers; End of Watch) makes a return, working alongside Ralph and the group of men to uncover the truth of the horror they face, challenging them all to suspend their disbelief to stop a powerful evil from escaping. Holly is a great character, always endearing, diligent, and still a little uncomfortable in her own skin. Painstakingly, she unpicks the mystery, steeped in recent crimes and folklore, getting them closer and closer to the villain that lurks in the shadows. But the evil is always one step ahead and will do all it can to protect itself.
Building to a tense showdown as the group uncover the truth, ‘The Outsider’ is thrilling and intense, a tale of good versus evil in our conflicted modern world.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
March 28, 2020
Lynda La Plante's She's Out - Review
She's Out by Lynda La PlanteMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Dolly Rawlins returns in Lynda La Plante’s final instalment in the trilogy, following ‘Widows’ and ‘Widows’ Revenge’.
‘She’s Out’ was originally published in 1995, a novelisation of the TV series of the same name, which served as a sequel and conclusion to the TV series ‘Widows’, which aired two seasons in 1983 and 1985. Much like the two novels before it, ‘She’s Out’ was out-of-print for many years, though was reprinted recently and thus not as rare as copies of the first two books, prior to the publication of this newly revised version to follow the republication of the first two novels.
(Warning: contains spoilers for ‘Widows’ and ‘Widows’ Revenge’)
After spending nine years in prison for the murder of her husband, Dolly is soon to be released. Her dreams of starting afresh and opening a home for disadvantaged children have kept her going throughout her sentence, with the proceeds of the diamond heist safely hidden away awaiting her release.
But Dolly isn’t the only one awaiting her release. Ester Freeman is busy gathering a group of women together on the outside, women who served time with Dolly and have all heard the rumours about the diamonds that the police were never able to recover. Also waiting for Dolly is DS Mike Withey, who holds her responsible for death of his sister, Shirley Miller. Unbeknownst to him, his mother, Audrey, is complicit in the disappearance of the stolen diamonds.
On her release, Dolly finds that Ester has made arrangements for her. Chauffeured to a remote manor house, Dolly is immediately suspicious. But Ester assures her she and the other women only have Dolly’s best interests at heart and that the manor house will be perfect for Dolly’s plans. On the spur of the moment, Dolly purchases the property, only afterwards discovering the amount of work that will be required. Ester has cleaned her out; now she must retrieve the diamonds. As the women continue their elaborate con and Mike persuades his superiors they should be paying close attention to Dolly Rawlins, Dolly begins the process of pursuing her dream of opening the manor to help children.
But the cracks soon begin to appear. Dolly’s criminal record, the presence of the other women and continued police harassment threaten to bring her dreams crashing down, while the risks she takes to retrieve the diamonds may prove fruitless. Backed into a corner, unsure who she can trust, Dolly begins making a different plan – to commit a dangerous and audacious robbery of a mail train transporting millions of pounds. But with so much mistrust and double-crossing, Dolly’s carefully laid plans threaten to unravel with tragic, violent consequences.
Full of flawed and intriguing characters, the novel explores the often-tragic stories of women pulled into a life of crime, continuing a theme firmly established in the first series/novel. The characters and their stories are at the novel’s heart, which asks both how many of them are ‘real’ criminals; and how possible is it for someone to truly be able to rehabilitate themselves? Both questions are as significant to our society twenty-five years later as they were at the time of original broadcast/publication, if not more so.
After her time inside, Dolly is colder, harder, less trusting, and still wracked with guilt. Despite his betrayal and her subsequent revenge against him, Dolly still misses Harry dreadfully. Her memories of him and the other widows allow us brief glimpses beneath her exterior and we are rooting for her throughout. On TV, Ann Mitchell returned as Dolly, showcasing the quality that the right mix of writing and acting can bring to the performance of a character.
Captivating throughout, ‘She’s Out’ hurtles relentlessly towards its devastating denouement, the final chapters full of action, tension and emotion, concluding the trilogy in a satisfying, intense and ultimately fitting way.
Having now revisited the entire trilogy, I thoroughly enjoyed reacquainting myself with every character and every twist and turn. Both the original TV series and the three novels, now reworked and republished with matching cover art, standout for their gripping storytelling and strong characterisation, both as separate pieces of work and as a whole. It certainly won’t be the last time I revisit the story of Dolly Rawlins.
Of course, if you look hard enough, as in life, there are always some threads left to pull if you so choose. Lynda’s new novel, ‘Buried’ (which will be out next week) promises that some of these threads may linger in the background of new character DC Jack Warr’s life and a case he becomes involved with. Some stories may always leave a final surprise for us. I cannot wait to read it.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
March 22, 2020
Dark Days: Searching for the Light
These are dark days. We are all trying to process what is happening as best we can.
Hospitals are full with the sick and the dying. Those working on the frontline of the crisis are buckling under the strain. Across the globe, thousands are dead. The hope that thousands more will not join them is fading rapidly. Governments have, with varying degrees of urgency, been implementing measures to stave the crisis. Measures that will dramatically change our way of life. Yet the virus continues to spread, relentless.
Our faith in humanity is being tested. We are seeing the worst in people. Racism and xenophobia, erupting in aggression and violence. Selfishness as supermarket shelves are emptied and people fight over the final items remaining. Greed as such items are sold for exorbitant prices. Owners of large businesses so swiftly and easily culling their workforce to protect their own inflated salaries and the money in their bank accounts. Scams that take advantage of fear and desperation. Con-artists who offer the helping hand of a Samaritan only to steal from the vulnerable. Just some of the displays of sub-humanity we have witnessed in such a short space of time. What is wrong with these people? They should all be hanging their heads in shame.
People are afraid. Afraid for the health of their loved ones. Afraid for themselves. Afraid for their jobs and livelihoods. Afraid for the future. Unsure if they are doing the right or the wrong things, assaulted by a barrage of images and information, some of it conflicting. It is easy to imagine this is how the world ends.
But in the darkest times, we also see the best in people. Medical staff fight every day to save lives. Retail staff enable us to still put food on our tables. Cleaners make it safer for us to venture outside; education staff keep our children safe if we still need to go to work; delivery-people ensure we still have access to all that we need; police officers still keep our streets safe; carers look after the most vulnerable when we cannot do so. Countless others contribute to maintaining society while it threatens to crumble. Thank you to all of them. They prove we are right to still have hope.
If we look hard enough, we can still find stories that we may describe as miraculous. People over one-hundred years old beating the disease. People and businesses holding out a helping hand to support others. Communities coming together. People are remembering to still dance and sing and laugh. In the skies above once-polluted cities, the birds are singing again. Dolphins have returned to the waters of Venice.
Tragically, in our modern world, we’ll find as many sources debunking these stories of hope as we find promoting them. Not knowing what to believe only adds to the fear and the isolation. But what is without question is that people are finding ways to support each other. We are all in this together and we can all contribute – offering to help just one other person may make all the difference. There are many different ways to offer support to someone. Remember, you are not alone.
We should follow the advice. We shouldn’t take more than we need and we can be willing to share what we have. We can stay at home unless absolutely necessary. If we must go out, whether that be to go to work, get supplies, or for fresh air and exercise, we can take the precautions of social distancing. Surely it is our duty to be good human beings.
To those who proclaim that the advice and precautions are not necessary or too extreme; those who claim they are attempts to take away our human rights; those who ignore the pleas not to empty shelves; those who believe simply that none of this applies to them and who refuse to disrupt their lives – you are part of the problem. You are the reason the advice is getting stricter and choices are being taken away. Please shut your mouths. Stop your selfish behaviour. You are endangering lives.
These are dark days. We are seeing the worst and the best in people. As we witness the pain and death in the world, we must also remember there is much to be thankful for. Even on the darkest of days, we can still find a glimmer of light.
Hospitals are full with the sick and the dying. Those working on the frontline of the crisis are buckling under the strain. Across the globe, thousands are dead. The hope that thousands more will not join them is fading rapidly. Governments have, with varying degrees of urgency, been implementing measures to stave the crisis. Measures that will dramatically change our way of life. Yet the virus continues to spread, relentless.
Our faith in humanity is being tested. We are seeing the worst in people. Racism and xenophobia, erupting in aggression and violence. Selfishness as supermarket shelves are emptied and people fight over the final items remaining. Greed as such items are sold for exorbitant prices. Owners of large businesses so swiftly and easily culling their workforce to protect their own inflated salaries and the money in their bank accounts. Scams that take advantage of fear and desperation. Con-artists who offer the helping hand of a Samaritan only to steal from the vulnerable. Just some of the displays of sub-humanity we have witnessed in such a short space of time. What is wrong with these people? They should all be hanging their heads in shame.
People are afraid. Afraid for the health of their loved ones. Afraid for themselves. Afraid for their jobs and livelihoods. Afraid for the future. Unsure if they are doing the right or the wrong things, assaulted by a barrage of images and information, some of it conflicting. It is easy to imagine this is how the world ends.
But in the darkest times, we also see the best in people. Medical staff fight every day to save lives. Retail staff enable us to still put food on our tables. Cleaners make it safer for us to venture outside; education staff keep our children safe if we still need to go to work; delivery-people ensure we still have access to all that we need; police officers still keep our streets safe; carers look after the most vulnerable when we cannot do so. Countless others contribute to maintaining society while it threatens to crumble. Thank you to all of them. They prove we are right to still have hope.
If we look hard enough, we can still find stories that we may describe as miraculous. People over one-hundred years old beating the disease. People and businesses holding out a helping hand to support others. Communities coming together. People are remembering to still dance and sing and laugh. In the skies above once-polluted cities, the birds are singing again. Dolphins have returned to the waters of Venice.
Tragically, in our modern world, we’ll find as many sources debunking these stories of hope as we find promoting them. Not knowing what to believe only adds to the fear and the isolation. But what is without question is that people are finding ways to support each other. We are all in this together and we can all contribute – offering to help just one other person may make all the difference. There are many different ways to offer support to someone. Remember, you are not alone.
We should follow the advice. We shouldn’t take more than we need and we can be willing to share what we have. We can stay at home unless absolutely necessary. If we must go out, whether that be to go to work, get supplies, or for fresh air and exercise, we can take the precautions of social distancing. Surely it is our duty to be good human beings.
To those who proclaim that the advice and precautions are not necessary or too extreme; those who claim they are attempts to take away our human rights; those who ignore the pleas not to empty shelves; those who believe simply that none of this applies to them and who refuse to disrupt their lives – you are part of the problem. You are the reason the advice is getting stricter and choices are being taken away. Please shut your mouths. Stop your selfish behaviour. You are endangering lives.
These are dark days. We are seeing the worst and the best in people. As we witness the pain and death in the world, we must also remember there is much to be thankful for. Even on the darkest of days, we can still find a glimmer of light.
February 22, 2020
Whispers from the Dead of Night
The wait is finally over. The day I have been working towards for so many months has arrived.
Today, I published Whispers from the Dead of Night, my brand new short story collection featuring seven tales, a blend of horror and multiple sub-genres.
With a mixture of excitement and anxiety, I present these tales to my readers and await your feedback. In the meantime, I feel like I need to go into hibernation for several months. I very much
hope you enjoy these stories.
Available to download from Amazon (Kindle) and Lulu.com. Coming soon for iBooks, NOOK and Kobo…
Available in paperback from Lulu.com. Coming soon to Amazon…
Are you sitting comfortably, the fire crackling, a mug of cocoa in hand? Then let us begin…
I. A Deathly Shade of Pale
A journey through fog and darkness, destination unknown…
“…its haunting atmosphere really grips you.” Lulu Reviewer
Available to download free from Lulu.com, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble (NOOK) and Rakuten (Kobo). Read a preview here.
II. Prisoner
A sexual obsession spiralling out of control…
III. The Wanderer
A forbidden love…
IV. I Killed Dorian
A killer who preys on the lonely…
V. Bluebell
An investigation into a haunted monastery…
VI. ’Twas the Night Before Christmas
A visitation on Christmas Eve with diabolical intentions…
“…such a wonderful thing to discover a current author who not only appreciates the poetic prose of the classic, Victorian Gothic novels, but can also deliver it with a modern twist.” L.B. Stimson, Author of A Pale Shade of Winter
Read a preview here.
VII. Run
A night-time escape through the forest…
Seven tales of mystery and the supernatural for a winter’s evening.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Today, I published Whispers from the Dead of Night, my brand new short story collection featuring seven tales, a blend of horror and multiple sub-genres.
With a mixture of excitement and anxiety, I present these tales to my readers and await your feedback. In the meantime, I feel like I need to go into hibernation for several months. I very much
hope you enjoy these stories.
Available to download from Amazon (Kindle) and Lulu.com. Coming soon for iBooks, NOOK and Kobo…
Available in paperback from Lulu.com. Coming soon to Amazon…
Are you sitting comfortably, the fire crackling, a mug of cocoa in hand? Then let us begin…
I. A Deathly Shade of Pale
A journey through fog and darkness, destination unknown…
“…its haunting atmosphere really grips you.” Lulu Reviewer
Available to download free from Lulu.com, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble (NOOK) and Rakuten (Kobo). Read a preview here.
II. Prisoner
A sexual obsession spiralling out of control…
III. The Wanderer
A forbidden love…
IV. I Killed Dorian
A killer who preys on the lonely…
V. Bluebell
An investigation into a haunted monastery…
VI. ’Twas the Night Before Christmas
A visitation on Christmas Eve with diabolical intentions…
“…such a wonderful thing to discover a current author who not only appreciates the poetic prose of the classic, Victorian Gothic novels, but can also deliver it with a modern twist.” L.B. Stimson, Author of A Pale Shade of Winter
Read a preview here.
VII. Run
A night-time escape through the forest…
Seven tales of mystery and the supernatural for a winter’s evening.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
February 9, 2020
Whispers from the Dead of Night
I cannot quite believe that I am finally writing these words.
Whispers from the Dead of Night
is finished! Aside from another read-through and final edits, book four is complete. There were moments when I wasn’t sure if it ever would be. I have worked so hard on it over the past eighteen months, whilst also persevering with work and some personal challenges.
This collection, a hybrid of horror and multiple sub-genres, features seven short stories. I released two of them as ebooks late last year – A Deathly Shade of Pale and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – and have received some great reviews for them already. I cannot wait to share the full collection, and hope that my readers will enjoy these stories as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them.
Now for some tea and cake to celebrate!
Are you sitting comfortably, the fire crackling, a mug of cocoa in hand? Then let us begin…
A journey through fog and darkness, destination unknown…
A sexual obsession spiralling out of control…
A forbidden love…
A killer who preys on the lonely…
An investigation into a haunted monastery…
A visitation on Christmas Eve with diabolical intentions…
A night-time escape through the forest…
Seven tales of mystery and the supernatural for a winter’s evening.
Pre-order on Amazon
A Deathly Shade of Pale
“…its haunting atmosphere really grips you.” Lulu Reviewer
Download free at Lulu.com and other retailers. Read a preview here.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
“…such a wonderful thing to discover a current author who not only appreciates the poetic prose of the classic, Victorian Gothic novels, but can also deliver it with a modern twist.” L.B. Stimson, Author of A Pale Shade of Winter
Download for just 99p at Lulu.com and other retailers. Read a preview here.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
This collection, a hybrid of horror and multiple sub-genres, features seven short stories. I released two of them as ebooks late last year – A Deathly Shade of Pale and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – and have received some great reviews for them already. I cannot wait to share the full collection, and hope that my readers will enjoy these stories as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them.
Now for some tea and cake to celebrate!
Are you sitting comfortably, the fire crackling, a mug of cocoa in hand? Then let us begin…
A journey through fog and darkness, destination unknown…
A sexual obsession spiralling out of control…
A forbidden love…
A killer who preys on the lonely…
An investigation into a haunted monastery…
A visitation on Christmas Eve with diabolical intentions…
A night-time escape through the forest…
Seven tales of mystery and the supernatural for a winter’s evening.
Pre-order on Amazon
A Deathly Shade of Pale
“…its haunting atmosphere really grips you.” Lulu Reviewer
Download free at Lulu.com and other retailers. Read a preview here.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
“…such a wonderful thing to discover a current author who not only appreciates the poetic prose of the classic, Victorian Gothic novels, but can also deliver it with a modern twist.” L.B. Stimson, Author of A Pale Shade of Winter
Download for just 99p at Lulu.com and other retailers. Read a preview here.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
December 31, 2019
James Lovegrove's Sherlock Holmes & The Christmas Demon - Review
Sherlock Holmes & the Christmas Demon by James LovegroveMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A gripping new case for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson for the Yuletide season.
There have been many follow-ups and interpretations of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, as well as spin-offs featuring other characters from the canon, both in print and in film and television. Some are widely successful - Anthony Horowitz's two authorised novels and Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss' modern-setting BBC TV series amongst the most notable. James Lovegrove has written several Sherlock Holmes stories since 2013, with this the latest, published in 2019.
'Sherlock Holmes & The Christmas Demon' begins a few days before Christmas in 1890 with the arrival of a potential new client in the form of Eve Allerthorpe, who is terrified that she is being haunted by preternatural forces - a ghost who may or may not be the spirit of her dead mother; and a folkloric demon known as the Black Thurrick, one of the many interpretations of a Christmas demon (Krampus being the most widely-known in the 21st century).
Intrigued by the story of her persecution, and not at all convinced her tormentor is supernatural in origin, Holmes agrees to take on the case. He and Watson travel to the Allerthorpe family home in Yorkshire, where they encounter Eve's immediate family, who immediately make it known they are not welcome. As Holmes begin to unearth secrets and lies, the Black Thurrick selects Watson as his next target, followed by a suspicious death that may finally crack open the case.
'Sherlock Holmes & The Christmas Demon' is a thrilling Victorian mystery, packed full of Holmes' deductive brilliance and wry wit, foreboding atmosphere and a seasonal chill. Revisiting Holmes and discovering a new story that captures the essence of Conan Doyle's storytelling and Holmes' character is a joyous gift - this reminiscent of a Christmas 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', with its remote setting, historic dynasty and folkloric horrors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this while enjoying a few days off over the Christmas period.
I sincerely hope that Lovegrove writes more Holmes mysteries in this vein. Synopses and reviews of his other Holmes' novels suggest they stray considerably from the tradition of Conan Doyle's stories, but on the merit of 'The Christmas Demon', I may explore them in the future.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
December 24, 2019
The Cosy & The Creepy - Christmas Book Reviews
Here are my reviews of the Christmas crime, horror and mystery I've been reading in the run-up to Christmas...
A Christmas Guest by Anne Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A Victorian murder mystery in the tradition of the Golden Age of crime fiction.
This was the first of Anne Perry's Christmas novellas that I read, this one featuring Mariah Ellison, who is incensed to discover she will not be spending Christmas with her granddaughter as usual, but will instead be sent to spend time with her ex-daughter-in-law and her new husband. Once there, she is determined not to enjoy herself, becoming further distressed when another guest arrives unexpectedly. But when this guest is found dead, Mariah becomes convinced she may have been murdered, and sets out to find the perpetrator.
I flew through 'A Christmas Guest' - at times humorous, at other moments touching, with a classic mystery at its heart - a traditional tale of the redemption of a human soul through discovering the spirit of Christmas.
Spirits of the Season: Christmas Hauntings by Tanya Kirk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A collection of creepy and chilling tales of hauntings of the Christmas season.
Featuring short stories originally published between 1867 and 1940, 'Spirits of the Season' is a wide-ranging collection featuring the gothic and macabre, continuing the tradition of telling ghost stories in the days leading up to Christmas, particularly on Christmas Eve - as editor Tanya Kirk explains, much like on Hallowe'en, souls of the dead are most active on the eve of a holy day.
Personal highlights were Frank R. Stockton's 'The Christmas Shadrach', telling of a gift that holds supernatural influence; Marjorie Bowen's 'The Prescription', the tale of a visitation and the legend of a local murder; and A. M. Burrage's 'Smee', the ghostly tale of a party game joined by an extra player.
If your Christmas is not complete without a horror story on a chilly evening, this collection will satisfy your craving.
The Christmas Pudding Murders by Various
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another delightful seasonal collection of short stories, curated by Cecily Gayford.
With appearances from classic characters such as Campion and Rumpole and standalone stories from crime fiction greats such as Ellis Peters and Dorothy L. Sayers, 'The Christmas Pudding Murders' is the perfect companion to Christmas evenings, featuring deceptively cosy tales of murder and skulduggery.
My personal highlights were Ellis Peters' 'Let Nothing You Dismay', an atmospheric story about a break-in on the night before Christmas Eve; Julian Symons' 'Twixt the Cup and the Lip', about the planning and execution of a jewellery robbery; and my favourite, Gillian Linscott's 'A Scandal in Winter', as a young girl recounts a story of how she may have witnessed a murder, featuring some surprise appearances that I shan't ruin for those that won't expect them as I didn't.
This annual tradition demonstrates how crime fiction and the Christmas season are natural companions.
Merry Christmas!
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
A Christmas Guest by Anne PerryMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A Victorian murder mystery in the tradition of the Golden Age of crime fiction.
This was the first of Anne Perry's Christmas novellas that I read, this one featuring Mariah Ellison, who is incensed to discover she will not be spending Christmas with her granddaughter as usual, but will instead be sent to spend time with her ex-daughter-in-law and her new husband. Once there, she is determined not to enjoy herself, becoming further distressed when another guest arrives unexpectedly. But when this guest is found dead, Mariah becomes convinced she may have been murdered, and sets out to find the perpetrator.
I flew through 'A Christmas Guest' - at times humorous, at other moments touching, with a classic mystery at its heart - a traditional tale of the redemption of a human soul through discovering the spirit of Christmas.
Spirits of the Season: Christmas Hauntings by Tanya KirkMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A collection of creepy and chilling tales of hauntings of the Christmas season.
Featuring short stories originally published between 1867 and 1940, 'Spirits of the Season' is a wide-ranging collection featuring the gothic and macabre, continuing the tradition of telling ghost stories in the days leading up to Christmas, particularly on Christmas Eve - as editor Tanya Kirk explains, much like on Hallowe'en, souls of the dead are most active on the eve of a holy day.
Personal highlights were Frank R. Stockton's 'The Christmas Shadrach', telling of a gift that holds supernatural influence; Marjorie Bowen's 'The Prescription', the tale of a visitation and the legend of a local murder; and A. M. Burrage's 'Smee', the ghostly tale of a party game joined by an extra player.
If your Christmas is not complete without a horror story on a chilly evening, this collection will satisfy your craving.
The Christmas Pudding Murders by VariousMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another delightful seasonal collection of short stories, curated by Cecily Gayford.
With appearances from classic characters such as Campion and Rumpole and standalone stories from crime fiction greats such as Ellis Peters and Dorothy L. Sayers, 'The Christmas Pudding Murders' is the perfect companion to Christmas evenings, featuring deceptively cosy tales of murder and skulduggery.
My personal highlights were Ellis Peters' 'Let Nothing You Dismay', an atmospheric story about a break-in on the night before Christmas Eve; Julian Symons' 'Twixt the Cup and the Lip', about the planning and execution of a jewellery robbery; and my favourite, Gillian Linscott's 'A Scandal in Winter', as a young girl recounts a story of how she may have witnessed a murder, featuring some surprise appearances that I shan't ruin for those that won't expect them as I didn't.
This annual tradition demonstrates how crime fiction and the Christmas season are natural companions.
Merry Christmas!
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
December 23, 2019
John Passarella's Halloween - Review
Halloween: The Official Movie Novelization by John PassarellaMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The gripping novelisation of the 2018 film sequel to the 1978 slasher classic.
Michael Myers is back to terrorise the sleepy town of Haddonfield. For forty years, he has remained incarcerated, having been apprehended shortly after the conclusion to his killing spree in the original film, when he apparently escaped after being shot six times by Dr Loomis during his attack on Laurie Strode. Two journalists are determined to get an interview with Myers, to see behind the mask before he is transferred back to Smith’s Grove Sanitorium and they lose the opportunity. But he remains silent and impassive.
The journalists turn their attention to Laurie Strode, the lone survivor. She is practically a recluse, semi-estranged from her daughter, Karen, and granddaughter, Allyson. Haunted by the events of that night forty years before, she has fortified her property, awaiting the day that Michael will return to finish what he started.
During his transfer, Michael escapes. Laurie knew the day would come and she is prepared. But she is the only one that is. Leaving a trail of bloodshed and carnage in his wake, Michael returns to Haddonfield on Hallowe’en night. After waiting forty years, Laurie soon comes face to face with the Shape, in what may be their final confrontation.
Passarella’s novelisation, based on the screenplay by Danny McBride, Jeff Fradley and David Gordon Green, deepens and enriches the plot and characters of the film. I absolutely loved every second, flying through the pages, becoming once again enthralled by Michael and Laurie’s cat-and-mouse game. I waited an entire year to read it on Hallowe’en (as I wanted to watch the film first when it was released the previous year) – it was certainly worth the wait and did not suffer from me already being familiar with the plot. This is the perfect companion to the film.
It’s worth noting that “Halloween” (2018) is a direct sequel to “Halloween” (1978) only, ignoring the events of “Halloween II” (1981), which took place on the same night as the original, and every sequel since. However, we’ve experienced abandonment of sequels and changes to the timeline before – “Halloween H20”; as well as an anthology film – “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” - and a remake series – “Halloween” (2007) and “Halloween II” (2009). There are subtle nods to these forgotten sequels – Laurie being Michael’s sister is somewhat of an urban legend, made up so people can make themselves feel like it wouldn’t happen to them, so Allyson suggests; while those deadly Silver Shamrock masks may be for sale once again to the world's children.
Of course, you can’t kill the Boogeyman. Michael will return next year in “Halloween Kills”, and once more in 2021 in “Halloween Ends”. I hope John Passarella will get to tackle both those films and write a further two novels as sequels to this one.
Perfect to read on autumnal nights, “Halloween” is a sublime horror novel, that will grip you in its clutches and drag you relentlessly through Michael’s night of terror. You can only pray you will survive ‘til morning.
View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
December 8, 2019
'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Preview
She would always remember the first night he visited, on a cold and treacherous Christmas Eve so many years before. Not unlike this one, with the wind howling down the chimney and a young child awaiting the arrival of St. Nicholas. Through the thin glass, she watched the cobbled street, awaiting the purr of the engine and crunch of tyres, fearful of a faraway tread of hooves and wheels bouncing from the cracks.
Her fingertips touched the cold pane, as the first snowfall of winter began; flakes gently floating against the glass, vanishing as if at the touch of her fingers. That day had seen the first snowfall of winter too, while she had been walking the fields with her younger brother, her father having gone down into the village to stock up on provisions. She had raised her arms to the sky, thanking the Lord that it was to be a white Christmas.
Laughing, she and her brother had run back to the house, where they found their mother assisting Mrs Gibbon, the cook and housekeeper, with the preparations for this evening’s dinner and tomorrow’s celebratory luncheon. It was a tradition for their mother to help in the kitchen each Christmas; so as never to forget her roots, she said.
“Would you like any help, Mother?”
“No, thank you, Ellie. You just keep your brother occupied until your father gets home and we can prepare for this evening.”
Which she dutifully did. Holidays, Christmas in particular, while they were children had been filled with games and laughter, the sheer joy that only children can feel. Reminiscing, then, had always overflowed with a warm glow, not tinged with the cold edge of sadness and the bitterness of regret. Childhood should be as sweet as candy cane and she was glad of it, but only wished she could see it otherwise than as through the glass of a snow globe.
She remembered the many Christmases spent baking in the kitchen with Mrs Gibbon, singing carols along to the wireless with her brother, taking long walks in the countryside in the brisk air with her father. She could shake all of these images and watch the snow fall around them the way the icing sugar used to fall through a sieve to top a Victoria sponge, each one like a scene from the handmade Christmas cards which her mother would send to cousins and aunts and uncles whom she had never met. The mirage of a perfect Christmas.
They spent the afternoon in the sitting room, listening to the wireless, watching out of the window as the snow fell thicker, listening to the carols. A radio play aired, a tale of goblins who hijacked St. Nicholas’ grotto and forced the elves to make monstrous toys to be delivered to the world’s children on Christmas Eve and trap them all in a time loop, so that Christmas morning would never again dawn. Darkness fell slowly from mid-afternoon, the white haze growing thicker. The snow was sticking and getting deeper before they finally heard the clattering of the front door.
A flurry of snow preceded their father into the hallway.
“Maud and her brood assured me they were leaving promptly as I left. She said we shouldn’t wait for her to serve dinner.”
“Hugo, that simply won’t do. They are our guests; I should not be seen to be ungracious enough to sit down to dinner prior to their arriving.”
“Very well, Carolyn, we shall await their arrival.”
Ellie listened to this exchange as she watched the snow begin to pile in the driveway. Her aunt Maud, Maud’s husband Gregory, and her cousins, Jack and John, would likely struggle to reach them. It would be a shame. They visited every Christmas. The boys, aged nine and ten, were like brothers to Eustace, her own nine-year-old brother. When it snowed, she and her father would help the three boys build a snowman while her mother assisted Mrs Gibbon in preparing the luncheon.
“Eleanor, perhaps you and your brother should help your mother prepare the dining room and then get yourselves ready for dinner.”
“Yes, Father.” She switched off the wireless and beckoned to her brother.
After laying the table for eight, Ellie filled herself a bath, enjoying the hot water enveloping her body whilst listening to the wind howling outside, rattling the window pane, whipping the snow into a blizzard.
Washing and drying herself, she pulled her clothes tight around her to block out the chill, filling the bath again and calling out to her brother that his bath was ready as she passed his bedroom on the landing. She sat on her bed and watched the snow for a while, the trees shrouded in white, branches reaching out like claws in the darkened evening.
She changed into her eveningwear, her garments finished with a winter gown featuring a fitted corset and dresses flowing to the floor. Her brother knocked on the door, asking her to secure his bow tie for him, a skill he’d not yet mastered.
They returned to the sitting room, where they found their parents also dressed in preparation for dinner. They settled to await the rest of the family’s arrival, listening to the wireless forecast the most severe snowfall in several years, recommending they do not venture out of their homes unless in the most necessary circumstances.
‘In other news, authorities are seeking a man who absconded from prison earlier today. Edward Hitchfield, 42, who was convicted of two murders in March this year, escaped prison officials early this morning after being admitted to hospital following a minor injury. He has been described as medium-build, bearded, with dark hair but balding, last seen wearing prison-issue garments. Police have advised the public to be vigilant. They suspect he will have made changes to his appearance and urge the public to report any suspicions they may have.
‘Elsewhere…’
“My sympathies are with anyone who is without shelter in this weather, whomever they be,” Carolyn commented.
“This fellow won’t get far in this weather,” Hugo added. Ellie wondered fleetingly if it was truly their minds he was attempting to put at ease. “They’ll have caught him in no time at all.”
“Assuming he doesn’t freeze to death,” Ellie added aloud, looking out into the ever-falling snow. It sounded more savage to the ears than she intended. Neither of her parents commented.
They were silent as the news programme was succeeded by carols, the lyrics of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman swelling to fill the room. They all gazed thoughtfully through the window into the ghostly glow of the dark night. No one broke the silence. Satan’s power seemed particularly potent at that moment, with a man led astray somewhere out there in the wilderness, cloven hooves treading in his shadow.
A loud knock roused them from their rumination.
___
'Twas the Night Before Christmas will be available from Amazon and Lulu.com on Friday the 13th, with other retailers to follow.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Her fingertips touched the cold pane, as the first snowfall of winter began; flakes gently floating against the glass, vanishing as if at the touch of her fingers. That day had seen the first snowfall of winter too, while she had been walking the fields with her younger brother, her father having gone down into the village to stock up on provisions. She had raised her arms to the sky, thanking the Lord that it was to be a white Christmas.
Laughing, she and her brother had run back to the house, where they found their mother assisting Mrs Gibbon, the cook and housekeeper, with the preparations for this evening’s dinner and tomorrow’s celebratory luncheon. It was a tradition for their mother to help in the kitchen each Christmas; so as never to forget her roots, she said.
“Would you like any help, Mother?”
“No, thank you, Ellie. You just keep your brother occupied until your father gets home and we can prepare for this evening.”
Which she dutifully did. Holidays, Christmas in particular, while they were children had been filled with games and laughter, the sheer joy that only children can feel. Reminiscing, then, had always overflowed with a warm glow, not tinged with the cold edge of sadness and the bitterness of regret. Childhood should be as sweet as candy cane and she was glad of it, but only wished she could see it otherwise than as through the glass of a snow globe.
She remembered the many Christmases spent baking in the kitchen with Mrs Gibbon, singing carols along to the wireless with her brother, taking long walks in the countryside in the brisk air with her father. She could shake all of these images and watch the snow fall around them the way the icing sugar used to fall through a sieve to top a Victoria sponge, each one like a scene from the handmade Christmas cards which her mother would send to cousins and aunts and uncles whom she had never met. The mirage of a perfect Christmas.
They spent the afternoon in the sitting room, listening to the wireless, watching out of the window as the snow fell thicker, listening to the carols. A radio play aired, a tale of goblins who hijacked St. Nicholas’ grotto and forced the elves to make monstrous toys to be delivered to the world’s children on Christmas Eve and trap them all in a time loop, so that Christmas morning would never again dawn. Darkness fell slowly from mid-afternoon, the white haze growing thicker. The snow was sticking and getting deeper before they finally heard the clattering of the front door.
A flurry of snow preceded their father into the hallway.
“Maud and her brood assured me they were leaving promptly as I left. She said we shouldn’t wait for her to serve dinner.”
“Hugo, that simply won’t do. They are our guests; I should not be seen to be ungracious enough to sit down to dinner prior to their arriving.”
“Very well, Carolyn, we shall await their arrival.”
Ellie listened to this exchange as she watched the snow begin to pile in the driveway. Her aunt Maud, Maud’s husband Gregory, and her cousins, Jack and John, would likely struggle to reach them. It would be a shame. They visited every Christmas. The boys, aged nine and ten, were like brothers to Eustace, her own nine-year-old brother. When it snowed, she and her father would help the three boys build a snowman while her mother assisted Mrs Gibbon in preparing the luncheon.
“Eleanor, perhaps you and your brother should help your mother prepare the dining room and then get yourselves ready for dinner.”
“Yes, Father.” She switched off the wireless and beckoned to her brother.
After laying the table for eight, Ellie filled herself a bath, enjoying the hot water enveloping her body whilst listening to the wind howling outside, rattling the window pane, whipping the snow into a blizzard.
Washing and drying herself, she pulled her clothes tight around her to block out the chill, filling the bath again and calling out to her brother that his bath was ready as she passed his bedroom on the landing. She sat on her bed and watched the snow for a while, the trees shrouded in white, branches reaching out like claws in the darkened evening.
She changed into her eveningwear, her garments finished with a winter gown featuring a fitted corset and dresses flowing to the floor. Her brother knocked on the door, asking her to secure his bow tie for him, a skill he’d not yet mastered.
They returned to the sitting room, where they found their parents also dressed in preparation for dinner. They settled to await the rest of the family’s arrival, listening to the wireless forecast the most severe snowfall in several years, recommending they do not venture out of their homes unless in the most necessary circumstances.
‘In other news, authorities are seeking a man who absconded from prison earlier today. Edward Hitchfield, 42, who was convicted of two murders in March this year, escaped prison officials early this morning after being admitted to hospital following a minor injury. He has been described as medium-build, bearded, with dark hair but balding, last seen wearing prison-issue garments. Police have advised the public to be vigilant. They suspect he will have made changes to his appearance and urge the public to report any suspicions they may have.
‘Elsewhere…’
“My sympathies are with anyone who is without shelter in this weather, whomever they be,” Carolyn commented.
“This fellow won’t get far in this weather,” Hugo added. Ellie wondered fleetingly if it was truly their minds he was attempting to put at ease. “They’ll have caught him in no time at all.”
“Assuming he doesn’t freeze to death,” Ellie added aloud, looking out into the ever-falling snow. It sounded more savage to the ears than she intended. Neither of her parents commented.
They were silent as the news programme was succeeded by carols, the lyrics of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman swelling to fill the room. They all gazed thoughtfully through the window into the ghostly glow of the dark night. No one broke the silence. Satan’s power seemed particularly potent at that moment, with a man led astray somewhere out there in the wilderness, cloven hooves treading in his shadow.
A loud knock roused them from their rumination.
___
'Twas the Night Before Christmas will be available from Amazon and Lulu.com on Friday the 13th, with other retailers to follow.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
