Lee Allen's Blog, page 8

Jessica Huntley's The Darkness Within Ourselves - Review

The Darkness Within Ourselves by Jessica Huntley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A gripping psychological thriller that examines the legacy of childhood friendship and the burden of guilt.

For two decades, Amber has been haunted by the Creature in her dreams and waking moments, living in a state of constant anxiety.

When one of her old school friends pays her a visit, Amber realises she is not alone - all her old friends have been suffering since the fateful day their relationship was severed.

They have all been hiding a dark secret, one that has continued to haunt them and is now resurfacing. Perhaps their only chance at peace is for the past to be finally dug up for all to see.

'The Darkness Within Ourselves' is the debut novel by Jessica Huntley and the first in 'The Darkness Trilogy'. Part psychological thriller, part supernatural horror, set in the rural town of Cherry Hollow, the narrative follows four friends between the present day and their memories of a tragedy that happened on the cusp of their teenage years. An intense, emotional and fast-paced thriller, it's both riveting entertainment and a thought-provoking exploration of its core themes of mental health and friendship, packed with creepy moments, suspense, and even a sprinkling of romance.

The Darkness itself may be its own entity, or several entities, portrayed as a personification of the mental health issues suffered by the characters; each of them has their own name for it. Guilt, grief, anxiety, depression, PTSD - all these manifest as a dark and terrifying presence in their lives and we witness how trauma has consumed and imprisoned each of them. Viewed through the lens of supernatural horror, the subject of mental illness is handled with delicacy, this vital theme approached in a way that can be accessible for those who perhaps struggle to understand the experiences or alternatively may be triggered by a more direct, clinical approach.

There are vibes of certain Stephen King stories - such at 'IT' and 'Stand By Me' ('The Body') - brought into a UK setting, centred around the history of the relationship between these four characters, haunted by the circumstances that shattered it. It’s a tale about friendship, evoking a feeling of nostalgia for the simpler time of childhood, which also perfectly juxtaposes with the horror and thriller elements. While it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, the story ends with the suggestion we may have not yet scratched the surface of the mystery surrounding the Darkness, omnipresent in the shadows of the mind.

The story continues in the sequel, 'The Darkness That Binds Us', to be soon followed by the last in the series, 'The Darkness That Came Before'. I'm eagerly anticipating diving into both and making a return to Cherry Hollow.



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter

Stephen King's Cujo - Review

Cujo by Stephen King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A classic tale of terror from the modern master of horror.

Cujo, a gentle-natured Saint Bernard, lives with his family on the outskirts of Castle Rock.

Bitten by a rabid bat, Cujo is left untreated, his symptoms unnoticed until it's too late.

As Cujo descends into madness and violence, he turns on any human prey unfortunate enough to cross his path.

'Cujo' is a natural horror novel by Stephen King, a fast-paced chiller dripping in blood and brutality as a creature from the natural world turns on humanity – in this case, one we have embraced as a common pet and brought into our homes. The narrative centres around two families living in Castle Rock - Cujo's owners, the Cambers, and the Trentons, who become ensnared by this animalistic threat by sheer circumstance.

King's superlative skill is in pulling the reader into the character narratives, keeping us hooked as the suspense builds and the plot unravels; his novels always an absorbing experience. Raw emotion bubbles to the surface throughout, not least because of poor Cujo, who was a gentle, loving dog prior to his infection. Relentless, tragic, and thrilling, we are reminded that we remain at the mercy of the natural world should it decide to turn its fury upon us.

In ‘Cujo’, we return to the town of Castle Rock for the second of many visits, following our first in 'The Dead Zone' to hunt a serial killer with Johnny Smith. The novel toys with the idea that the infection may be deeper than the rabies that infected Cujo, with Tad's nightmares and premonitions suggesting of evil lurking in the shadows deep in his closet, that something dark and malignant coalesces in this locale. We may only have scratched the surface in these early novels, but there is plenty more to come from Castle Rock, as well as references to the infamous Saint Bernard far and wide in King's universe, Cujo's tale taking on the aura of urban legend.

The novel was adapted for film under the same name in 1983. This was also notable as the first on-screen visit to Castle Rock; while this may have been succeeded by many visits, Cujo himself has yet to make his return to the screen. Meanwhile, in print, 'Cujo' will get a long-awaited sequel with one of the stories in King's upcoming collection 'You Like It Darker' - tantalisingly entitled 'Rattlesnakes'.



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter

Lynda La Plante's Taste of Blood - Review

Taste of Blood by Lynda La Plante

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A mysterious case for DI Jane Tennison.

Starting work at a new station, Jane is tasked with investigating a dispute between neighbours that has left one of them hospitalised.

Initially appearing a tedious case of neighbourhood bickering gone out of control, the investigation takes a more complex turn the more Jane digs.

A chance encounter with a psychic leads Jane to believe there is far more beneath the surface of this dispute, uncovering a case of murder.

'Taste of Blood' is the ninth and penultimate novel in the Jane Tennison prequel series, which has followed Jane from her joining the police and leads us up to her first murder inquiry as DCI in the first 'Prime Suspect'. Lynda La Plante delivers another brilliant, riveting thriller – a character-driven drama entwined with multiple twists and turns, a classic whodunnit buried beneath the surface of neighbourhood quarrels - with a select set of suspects within a confined locale giving it that vintage mystery quality. A major theme of the novel is psychic phenomena, several lines of enquiry presented through Jane's interaction with a psychic medium. Mediums and clairvoyants assisting in police investigations has always been a fascinating subject, one Lynda has impeccably researched. These scenes were superb, atmospheric and moving, perfectly balancing belief and scepticism, and an aura of the gothic and supernatural.

Transporting us back to the 80s, before our age of technological advancement, both in our personal lives and specifically relating to police practice and procedure, La Plante once again portrays this era vividly. Something that always strikes me about the early seasons of 'Prime Suspect' is how it depicts so brilliantly life and policing in the early 90s - as with many classics, simultaneously a glimpse of its time and a timeless narrative – something that each entry in this series has also captured, progressing from 1973 onwards. Forensic science always plays a key role in La Plante's work - this investigation taking place immediately following the breakthrough of DNA profiling and the successful arrest of Colin Pitchfork for multiple sexual assaults and murders in 1987, a case that significantly changed forensic science and police procedure (and, by extension, crime fiction) forevermore.

The series has focussed on the significant milestones of Jane’s life and career, exploring her impactful cases as we witness the development of her character. This chapter is an emotional rollercoaster for Jane; so much in this novel feels like the final formation of that tough outer shell she wears when we first meet her in 'Prime Suspect', as we experience perhaps one of the most tragic periods of Jane's life since the events of the very first novel in the series, with several deeply emotional moments that also shine a new perspective on what we know is to come in Jane’s future. As the case concludes and Jane embarks on the months of trial preparation, we are left tantalised for the next stage of her career, the final step towards her promotion and 'Prime Suspect'. I cannot wait for the next (and final) book!

Intense, absorbing, and fraught with emotion, ‘Taste of Blood’ is another fantastic book in a beloved series.



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter

Paul Brad Logan's Halloween Ends - Review

Halloween Ends: The Official Movie Novelization by Paul Brad Logan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The thrilling conclusion to the saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode.

Michael Myers has vanished. Since his escape and recent killing spree he has evaded capture and apparently disappeared. But Haddonfield is a scarred town that cannot forget.

After accidentally causing the death of a child, Corey Cunningham has become the town's new boogeyman. Laurie Strode sees through this prejudice, having suffered at the hands of town opinion herself, and introduces Corey to her granddaughter, Allyson.

But as Hallowe’en approaches, evil stirs in the shadows, and death comes to this little town once again.

'Halloween Ends' is the novelisation of the 2022 film, written by Paul Brad Logan, and based on the screenplay by Paul Brad Logan, David Gordon Green, Danny McBride, Chris Bernier. The last in Gordon Green's legacy trilogy, and thirteenth entry in the franchise overall, it concludes the story that began with ‘Halloween [2018]’ and continued with ‘Halloween Kills’. A fantastic companion to the movie and a riveting horror thriller on its own merit, the novel vividly translates the events portrayed on film to the page, delving deeper into the psyches of the characters.

Whereas 'Halloween [2018]' was the ultimate battle between Laurie and Michael forty years on and 'Halloween Kills' the continuation of that night, exploring the ongoing horror for Laurie and her family and the wider impact on the town and its citizens, 'Halloween Ends' is the denouement to that massacre, set four years later, a slow-burning and character-driven narrative of psychological depth, philosophical perspective, and the possibility of supernatural influence. It’s not necessarily the typical slasher, yet this gives the story its strength, exploring the concept of evil as a contagion, an infection spread through tragedy, abuse and trauma.

Severely weakened, still suffering from the wounds inflicted four years earlier and severely malnourished, an aging Michael Myers lurks in a disused sewer on the outskirts of Haddonfield. Meanwhile, Laurie Strode, the original survivor of Michael’s 1978 massacre, having waited forty years for the day he would escape so she could finally bring an end to it, but then tragically losing her daughter in the havoc that followed, has finally managed to begin the process of healing and living a life. The narrative is largely led through Corey and Allyson's story, blending romantic elements while further developing the central theme of the legacy of trauma; how evil and its scars afflict subsequent generations.

Throughout forty-five years, the series has walked the shadows between the flesh and blood and the supernatural, as is fitting for the festival it celebrates. This trilogy has honoured the original film and its creative spirit, very cleverly towing those shadows. Michael is a man, who, despite his inhuman abilities, can ultimately die. Yet this darkness within him, that has lived there since he was six years old, leaving him only a shell, may be the purest evil, almost its own entity in the way that Michael himself can appear almost supernatural in the form of the Shape; as he dons the mask that perfectly visualises that blank, pale, emotionless face that Dr. Loomis witnessed in the child who appeared to have no conscience or reason left, with "the blackest eyes, the Devil's eyes." You cannot really explain Michael Myers - he is unlike any flesh and blood serial or spree killer, and yet he is also not supernatural in the way Freddy or Jason (in his later films at least) may be.

Central to the entire legacy trilogy is Laurie Strode, the original final girl. Now a grandmother, a survivor; we've witnessed the effect of that Halloween night of 1978 and how it shaped her entire life and that of her family. She's developed into a feminist icon, both in character on the screen (and page), and through her portrayal by Jamie Lee Curtis. Horror is often attributed the reputation of not being kind to female characters - objectifying, sexualising and victimising them. Yet, in some ways, it has been ahead of the curve - in how many other genres would a "final girl" be one of the heroes of the narrative? The trilogy has essentially been Laurie’s story of survival – how she lived with her trauma and reclaimed the narrative, not simply being one of Michael’s victims, and how ultimately she emerges on the other side.

A fitting final chapter to this strand of the legacy, 'Halloween Ends' is a gripping installment in what is arguably the original and leading of the slasher franchises. Doubtless, Michael will ultimately return in some shape or form, and I will welcome it when that day arrives. As the story itself suggests, perhaps evil truly never dies.



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter

Happy Hallowe'en!

Hallowe’en night is upon us...

The Wheel of the Year comes full circle as we reach Samhain, when the veil between the realms of the living and the dead is at its thinnest, its most porous, when that sense of magic and mysticism make it feel it's possible to conquer time itself...

Here in Wales, tonight is Nos Galan Gaeaf, Winter's Eve. Much like its Gaelic equivalent, it marks and celebrates our entry into the dark half of the year, between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice. Tonight is essentially the end of the Celtic year, as the old year succumbs to death, beginning a new one some time before Yule brings the first glimmer of rebirth.

All across the globe, from a time far before we were all connected, first by conquest, then technology, cultures have marked this time of year with their festivals of the dead. With Christianisation, these Pagan festivals became the triduum of Hallowtide: All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, succeeded by All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Nevertheless, it retained its aura of rememberence and deference to the dead.

As the centuries went by, our fears of death and darkness buried the festival's spiritual heart deep; today, we celebrate through metaphor and horror fiction, the mirror we hold up through which to view our troubled world.

As you gaze into that glass, what moves behind you? Might you see the face of one you love, now or from the past or future? Or might something else lurk in those shadows...?

For, we all must remember one thing. Tonight, more so than any other night, we are never alone...

Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter

Robert Wynne-Simmons' Blood on Satan's Claw - Review

Blood on Satan's Claw: or, The Devil's Skin by Robert Wynne-Simmons

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A bewitching folktale of terror.

The discovery of a skull buried in a field begins the horror that befalls the rural community of Chapel Folding.

The children begin to act strangely, their childish games and squabbles developing a more sinister nature, a cult forming around the girl who holds a vicious claw.

Now a disease is spreading throughout the village, visible by the fur growing on the skin. Evil, malignant and contagious, has taken root, the idyllic countryside blighted and cursed in a war for the soul.

'Blood on Satan's Claw; or, The Devil's Skin' is the novelisation of the 1971 film 'The Blood on Satan's Claw', a story of supernatural horror, devil worship, demonic possession and religious mania, and one of the forebears of the folk horror sub-genre. Written by Robert Wynne-Simmons, who wrote the original screenplay and co-wrote the reworked version alongside director Piers Haggard, the novel combines a vivid depiction of its rural setting and its inhabitants with slow-burning, ominous plotting to produce a vision of nightmarish, vintage horror.

Set in the early 18th century, this is a time when the beliefs and customs of folklore and old Paganism still held firm and Christian fears of witchcraft and Satanism were at the height of hysteria, beliefs combining and conflicting, with the English Civil War and England's witch trials still in living memory. Exploring the epidemic qualities of terror and hysteria, which we've witnessed so often throughout history and continue to this day, Wynne-Simmons crafts an atmospheric narrative of compelling and creeping dread.

Following a dizzying amount of characters, with the switch between narratives sometimes feeling a little disjointed, it has the feel of a story once told orally, transcribed on to the page from a tale around the campfire. At its centre is teenager Angel, who, under the influence of the devil, becomes sorceress and seductress, a pawn in his plan to return to the realm of flesh and bone. Meanwhile, surrounding the cult building around her are those who hope to combat the evil, yet many may fall before it is thwarted, as the superstition and horror mounts to a final crusading attempt to prevent Satan setting foot upon the earth.

A folk horror classic, 'Blood on Satan's Claw' creeps beneath the skin to explore the influence of superstition and the supernatural on the human mind.



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter

Susan Hill's The Man in the Picture - Review

The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A chilling ghost story from the modern mistress of the genre.

Early in the new year, Oliver is spending a winter's evening with his friend and one time tutor, Theo, who recounts a strange tale.

A painting that still hangs on Theo's wall to this day has a dark history and hides macabre secrets.

But the malevolence manifested through this work of art remains potent. At severe cost, Oliver may soon learn the truth behind the man in the picture.

'The Man in the Picture' is a gothic ghost story by Susan Hill, in the tradition of the classic Gothics of Victorian fiction. Setting the scene perfectly as the characters settle in beside the fire, thus begins a tale of the mysterious and the uncanny, woven of multi-layered narratives told by several characters within the story, uncovering the history of events and unravelling the mystery.

Hill's writing is always evocative, crisp and expressive, perfectly conjuring a gothic atmosphere, a sense of time and place, and portraying unsettling events and ghostly apparitions, as the suspense coalesces like swirling mist or the finest snowfall. Each character's testimony is skillfully crafted, while the imagery is sublime, in particular the way the painting itself and the scenes on Venetian streets manifest so vividly.

Artwork has long associations with gothic and horror fiction, Hill using the concept to creeping effect, building to the revelation of an insidious, cruel thirst for vengeance that stretches back generations, a vicious evil that lives within the oil paint and canvas, born of pure malice; and leaves us with several final, disturbing twists. Once again, Susan Hill has gifted us a gripping gothic chiller, perfect for reading in one sitting during autumnal and wintery afternoons and evenings.



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter

Melissa McSherry & Dana LeeAnn's Carving for Cara - Review

Carving for Cara DARK Edition: A Dark Romance Halloween Novella by Dana LeeAnn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A dangerous and erotic game of trick-or-treat.

**Trigger Warning: This novella contains graphic descriptions of sexual violence and a controversial victim experience.**

Cara is excited for the upcoming Hallowe’en festivities, while also hoping she can finally disentangle herself from her selfish ex and move on.

Meeting her friend for pumpkin spice lattes, she finds herself transfixed by perhaps the most gorgeous man she has ever laid eyes on.

Rhett is equally enthralled by Cara on first sight. But he has a hidden dark side. Now, he will stop at nothing to entirely possess her.

'Carving for Cara', co-written by Melissa McSherry and Dana LeeAnn, is a dark romance novella for Hallowe’en, an erotic fantasy with slasher overtones. Told from the dual perspectives of Cara and Rhett, it delves deep into the psyches of both characters, exploring their thoughts, desires and passions as they head into this fateful Hallowe’en night. Bursting with seasonal imagery and flourishes of horror, the authors vividly set the scene as spice and suspense smoulders and ignites.

Cara, with her love for Hallowe’en and the season's darkness, longs for a lover who can satisfy her dark fantasies. Still in a casual relationship with her ex, unbeknownst to her best friend, she longs for escapism and a depth of pleasure she's not experienced in her life. Spunky, independent and beautiful, we experience her creeping unease as she is stalked by her unseen predator.

From the first moment he sees Cara, Rhett is obsessed: she is his and he knows how much she wants him. Narcissistic and delusional, he sets in play his scheme to claim his woman. I particularly liked how his character was developed authentically - he may be physically attractive, intelligent and highly skilled (in more ways than one), but he is nevertheless portrayed as the dangerous villain he is, not painted as a lovable, misunderstood hero (sometimes a mistake of the genre) - we never lose sight of his true nature as stalker, murderer and rapist.

Building to an intense climax as predator and prey collide in a pursuit through the corn field and into the pumpkin patch, Cara finds herself overpowered and defenseless as she lies bound and terrified. Even as she is assaulted, a deeper, primal part of herself stirs, pleasure rippling through her beyond her control.

Plus, this will be no one night stand - Cara and Rhett are set to return in a sequel, which I hope will be another Hallowe’en frenzy that also explores the aftermath and emotional fall-out of such a conflicting experience at the hands of a narcissist.

Oozing with pumpkin spice, 'Carving for Cara' is a delicious Hallowe’en quickie for readers who enjoy dabbling in CNC and BDSM fantasy or simply enjoy something brutal, rather than romantic, for our favourite dark season.



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter

Christian Klaver's Sherlock Holmes & Mr. Hyde - Review

The Classified Dossier - Sherlock Holmes and Mr Hyde by Christian Klaver

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Holmes and Watson hunt a sinister evil in another unearthed adventure from the supernatural case files.

Holmes' services are sought by Dr. Henry Jekyll, appealing to him to assist as his dark counterpart Mr. Edward Hyde is accused of murder.

Meanwhile, the police appeal to Holmes for help as a new series of murders suggest the Ripper has returned to stalk London's streets once again.

As the investigation leads Holmes and Watson into darker territory than ever before, they stumble across a plot that could mean the end of civilisation.

'Sherlock Holmes and Mr. Hyde' is the second volume in 'The Classified Dossier', an alternate Holmesian universe featuring characters of gothic horror fiction. Packed with action and adventure, mystery and the supernatural, as well as the real horror of Jack the Ripper and a fanatical cult, Klaver delivers a thrilling novel in the tradition of the classic fiction it emulates and expands upon.

Not only does the story feature Jekyll and Hyde, but Count Dracula and Mina return, as well as appearances from werewolves, and brushes with the Lovecraftian universe and the work of HG Wells. Ultimately, the novel delivers an exciting, thrill-ride with a mash-up of characters and bending of lore that you'd expect to see on the screen rather than the page; often, I was reminded of the original Dark Universe monster movies.

While diverting, in some elements significantly, from the established events of the source material of Stoker's Dracula, Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde, and Conan Doyle's Holmes stories, Klaver does demonstrate a detailed knowledge of all three canons and his changes are perhaps not as audacious as they may feel - those stories largely comprised of first person narratives or witness testimony and thus, by definition, presenting single perspectives with the potential to have been economical with the truth.

Building on the events of the previous volume, the novel develops the narrative threads that began in the separate novellas of the first book and deeper explores the rewriting of Dracula's tale and discoveries of the esoteric and the supernatural, culminating in a climatic action-packed finale that satisfies both narratively and emotionally.

The series will continue with 'Sherlock Holmes and Dorian Gray', promising a mystery for Holmes and Watson wrapped up with Egyptology and Wilde's anti-hero.



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter

Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Review

Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde and Other Stories by Robert Louis Stevenson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A classic tale of gothic horror and moral introspection.

Lawyer Mr. Utterson’s attention is drawn to the disreputable deeds of one Mr. Edward Hyde, whose behaviour is increasingly causing strife amongst London residents.

Utterson is deeply troubled by Hyde’s association with his client, Dr. Henry Jekyll, but Jekyll assures him he has no cause for alarm.

But when Hyde commits a brutal murder, Utterson is determined to aid his client escape this vile character. But the secret of Jekyll and Hyde is beyond any horror he could have imagined.

'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1886, is a tale of gothic horror, blended with mystery and dashes of detective and science fiction, seasoned with folkloric and religious undertones and a touch of moral and political allegory. We witness events through the experience of Utterson - his increasing concerns regarding his client Henry Jekyll's association with Edward Hyde and his succeeding determination to help his friend and thwart the schemes of the fiend, descending into a revelation of body horror that pushes the boundaries of both science and faith and our perceptions of good and evil.

Exploring themes such as the duality of human nature; the concept of a higher and lower self, with morality and civility juxtaposed with our basic instincts; the masks we wear in public versus our private selves; and substance misuse, Stevenson delivers a perfectly realised tale – compelling and vividly told, steeped in atmosphere and suspense, its conclusion both thought-provoking and chilling. 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' was one of the earliest gothic horror tales I became acquainted with and remains one of my favourites. Along with 'Dracula, 'Frankenstein' and 'The Mummy', it cemented my love of horror fiction, and is one I often enjoy revisiting in one form or another, as well as finding inspiration from it in my own writing.

Inspiration for the story reportedly came to Stevenson in a dream whilst suffering ill health, and may in part have been influenced by reaction to the real crimes of Eugene Chantrelle, who murdered his wife and whom Stevenson had met, and William Brodie, a housebreaker and thief, whom Stevenson had made the subject of an earlier play. It has also been claimed that the case of Louis Vivet, one of the earliest patients diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (many will be familiar with the more commonly used term (until recently) of multiple personality disorder); however, research suggests the publication of the study of Vivet's case came after Stevenson's tale, with no evidence to suggest he may have been aware of it prior to writing his story.

The novella was first adapted for the stage in 1887, and many adaptations for the stage have followed throughout the next thirteen decades. In 1908, it was first adapted for film, the first of many screen adaptations throughout the century and into the next, with some versions less than faithful to the original text. To date, the story has been adapted over a hundred times, yet, despite this familiarity, the original story loses none of its power.

Thrilling and mesmerising, 'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' remains a gothic classic, frothing and bubbling with horror and suspense.

[This edition also includes four horror short stories and the Christmas novella 'The Misadventures of John Nicholson'.]



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter