Book Review: Handmade Monsters by D.W. Gillespie
Title: Handmade Monsters
Author: D.W. Gillespie
Release date: June 12th, 2018
I’ve become a fast fan of D.W. Gillespie’s dark fiction. Between the phenomenal ‘One by One’ and the superb ‘The Toy Thief’ (which is one of my all-time fav books), Gillespie has delivered some really fantastic reads. I’ve also had the privilege of reading an unreleased novel that he is currently seeking a publisher for, and I have to say – it might be his best work yet.
But, I realized, I’d not read anything else from Gillespie and I know he has a number of releases. Off to the Zon I went, but oddly, and to my surprise, the only other release for Kindle was his collection ‘Handmade Monsters.’ Fair enough, Steve snagged it and dove in!
What I liked: The stories within cover a wide range of subject matter, but one thing I found time and time again was that most stories were focused around family and events that disrupt their existence. There were occasions, sure, where it was a straight forward story, but the ones that really had me on the edge of my seat all were centered around family. Maybe this speaks to where I am at in my own life? Who knows, but for what ever reason these all brought me the most joy.
Let’s dive into a few that really stood out for me!
‘The Tree Man.’ The first story in the collection is stunningly superb. This follows a family as it falls apart before our eyes. A husband and wife, with an odd son, all see something odd, all experience changes and before we know it, Gillespie rips everything apart. This is part folklore, part drama, but 100% phenomenal.
‘All Safe in Here.’ A post-apocalyptic story about a son making his way to the fallout shelter his dad made and waiting around for him. This was equal parts claustrophobic and unnerving. Typically, I’m not a fan of epistolary story telling set ups where it’s told through journals/diary entries etc, but this one worked really well.
‘Circle of Mist.’ This ended up being my personal favorite of the bunch. We arrive as a mother is near the end of her life and her battle with a disease, and her two kids struggle with the realization they’ll be living with their abusive step dad once she passes. One morning, they see something outside and this changes everything. I loved where Gillespie took this and how it played out. Just outstanding.
‘Something In Our House.’ Gillespie takes a fairly common horror story trope (kid thinks there’s monsters in the house at night) and injects some new life into the premise. We get some freaky dreams, odd happenings and eventually a horrific finale. Really well done and one that had me pulling my feet further away from the end of the bed.
Gillespie does an amazing job bringing these stories alive and from start to finish the collection is really solid.
What I didn’t like: There will always be a few stories in a collection that you don’t really click with or that fall a bit flat. Reader mileage will always vary, but I will say – I had fun with each and every story here.
Why you should buy this: Well first, if you haven’t read either ‘One by One’ or ‘The Toy Thief,’ I can’t recommend either enough. Both are out through Flame Tree Press, so you already have an idea of the caliber of releases they have.
Secondly, if you’re looking for a really great collection filled with stories that hum and crack with emotion but frequently go dark and then darker, look no further. Gillespie showcases why I consider him a must-read author time and time again!
4/5
