A WICKED Good Time

THE WICKED by James Newman (2012 Shock Totem Publications / 342 pp / tp)


The Little family--in an effort to rebuild their lives after a sexual assault--move from New York City to the small town of Morganville, North Carolina.  David's a popular book-cover artist, his wife Kate both pregnant and taking care of their 7-year old daughter Becca.  Kate's nrother Joel had moved there a few years earlier and is now the town's coroner.


Almost as soon as they move in, bodies begin to pile up, some victims of strange insect stings, others in brutal car crashes.  And when a department store Santa gets a little too close to young Becca, the idealic town of Morganville begins to reveal dark secrets that drag David, his family, and their elderly, ex-Marine neighbor George into a dark world of occultic violence and ancient mysteries.


THE WICKED is James Newman's homage to the generic horror novels of the 80s, and in the hands of a lesser author this could have been a real cheese-fest.  But Newman manages to give the tired old "Evil in a Small Town" thing a real kick in the pants, placing both children and religious institutions into frightening peril that's anything but campy.  The blood flows as freely as any classic Laymon or Garton novel, but unlike many stories THE WICKED pays tribute to, there's a real sense of impending doom throughout, as well as two protagonists we truly care for.  The compulsively-readable prose yanked me through it's 325 pages in 2 manic sittings.


Shock Totem's gore-geous retro-80's-looking cover design made me yearn for my teenage years, and Newman's bonus short, 'Boaracle,' is a fine way to top off what is easily going to be the most fun-to-read horror novel of the year.  Even those who read the limited edition hardcover from Necessary Evil Press a few years ago will want this nifty, extras-packed edition.


GREAT stuff.