Horror Aficionados discussion
Novels
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What books are you reading/have you recently read? 2023
Marie wrote: "I finished this book which was really good! Chills by Mary SanGiovanni - I thought it was just a three book series but it seems there are four books in the series. ..."
I really enjoyed The Sun Down Motel.
Grim Portraits: Six Stories About the Dark Side of Art by Kealan Patrick Burke
I was attracted to the description of this collection being a tribute to Rod Serling’s “Night Gallery” TV series, but I found the stories underwhelming.
Loved Sun Down Motel too! So well written and had me believing in ghosts again.Unfortunately I did not like the Book of Cold Cases which I just recently read. Felt it should of been a novella; it just went on and on for about a third of the book and I found myself simply not caring and wanting it to end.
Now listening to Night of the Mannequins; I picked a short novel as maybe it’s just me these days losing patience. And also reading Penance by Eliza Clarke, which I’m liking. I think I am depressed Halloween is over so there is that, thank goodness for this group!
Starting tonight im going to read “you’re not supposed to die tonight” by kaylnn Braylon. Its a teen slasher in book form
Dawn wrote: "Loved Sun Down Motel too! So well written and had me believing in ghosts again.Unfortunately I did not like the Book of Cold Cases which I just recently read. Felt it should of been a novella; it ..."
Absoluted loved Sun Down Motel and The borken Girls. One of my favourite writers these days
Just fininshed NOS4A2 on audiobook. Loved the story, the world building the characters.....just wished for a happier ending
I’m halfway through with Hidden Pictures and am listening to NOS4A2 on Storytel. Finished The Only One Left yesterday, was very entertaining!
Just finished Delicate Condition.
I liked this book better when it was called “Rosemary’s Baby.”
OK, that’s not entirely fair…it’s not completely “Rosemary’s Baby.” Just the first 80% of it. The last 20% goes off in another direction that didn’t work for me at all. But who knows? Others’ mileage may vary.
Recently finished Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, which I enjoyed a good deal. Featuring a cursed film, the director of said film, a Nazi occultist, creepy settings, a couple drawn into the intrigue and having to save themselves, plus a lot of information about cinema, in particular Mexican cinema ... what more could you want? SM-G is starting to make Mexico City the new Derry.Also finished The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon, also enjoyable. McMahon mixes the memories of two teen girls of Frankenstein and Bride of Frnakenstein with the reality of eugenics, making for some interesting character play and interactions with their grandma.
If both novels play out as thrillers, McMahon's hews closer to that genre, which maybe isn't surprising given her past work.
Love how all the individual stories combine in the last few pages to lead to something else. But I'll have to read the next books to find out what that something else is.
Starting
WendyB wrote: "
Love how all the individual stories combine in the last few pages to lead to something else. But I'll have to read the next books to find out what that something else ..."
Ah, Holly was fun, hope you like it!

Love how all the individual stories combine in the last few pages to lead to something else. But I'll have to read the next books to find out what that something else ..."
Ah, Holly was fun, hope you like it!
Desolation CanyonRussell James
The 7th in the series of Grant Coleman adventures - this is one for those who love monsters served up with an Indiana Jones/Jurassic Park twist. Great fun
Finishing Leech right now, I was SO sucked into the story but these last couple chapters have been a little messy and hard to get through!
I just finishedBone White
Loved the atmosphere. Malfi has quickly become one of my favorite authors.
Currently reading
and liking it. So far, it's fastpaced and getting very tense.
Also reading
. Seems like a fun story.
and liking it. So far, it's fastpaced and getting very tense.Also reading
. Seems like a fun story.
Melanie wrote: "Steph wrote: "I'm currently reading Camp Damascus"On my tbr, curious how you'll like it"
I finished it! I personally enjoyed it.
Melanie wrote: "Steph wrote: "I'm currently reading Camp Damascus"On my tbr, curious how you'll like it"
I recently finished this and I really enjoyed it! It wasn't heavy on the horror in my opinion, so don't go into it thinking it will be super scary. It did feel really authentic in the religious trauma sense and did pull my heart strings a bit. I was pleasantly surprised as I wouldn't typically pick up a book like this. Don't get me wrong it had the supernatural demons and whatnot, but to me it didn't seem like a huge part. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
I'm doing my best to get into the holiday spirit with Krampus: The Yule Lord I'm not that far in, but things are already chaotic for the main character. Chaotic may be an understatement...This is my first book by the author, though I've realized that I can't stop looking at Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery These covers are so gorgeous.
Finished Sign Here by Claudia Lux a couple days ago and then started reading Mister Magic by Kiersten White
'Tis the season for ghost stories, so I've started an oldie, The Collected Supernatural and Weird Fiction of E. G. Swain & Ralph Adams Cram: The Stoneground Ghost Tales & Black Spirits and White-Fifteen Short Ta. I read the Cram a few years ago and enjoyed it quite a bit; entertaining if you like Victorian/Edwardian ghost stories. Now I've started the Swain, whose tales were inspired by M. R. James with whom he was a contemporary.
Erin wrote: "Whiskey Sour"
I absolutely love this series. The characters are so weird and quirky and the writing is both scary as hell and funny!
I absolutely love this series. The characters are so weird and quirky and the writing is both scary as hell and funny!
Just finished The September House, which I happened to pick up when folks here were doing a group read (I didn't realize it at the time). Now I've started:Gaslight, Ghosts & Ghouls by R. Chetwynd-Hayes
Delightful old-school horror stories by the author of The Monster Club.
Just started onThe Night Parade
I'm only a few chapters in and I am already loving it. Something about Malfi's writing style really draws me in. I am really thrown off by the book's similarities to The Last of Us. Not sure which came first (Too lazy to google it...). It does make me laugh a little.
RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "inciminci wrote: "I'm reading
..."That's my all-time favorite horror collection. Enjoy!"
Thanks RJ, it's quite a treat for me too.
WendyB wrote: "Erin wrote: "Whiskey Sour"I absolutely love this series. The characters are so weird and quirky and the writing is both scary as hell and funny!"
I am enjoying it so far!
Books mentioned in this topic
NOS4A2 (other topics)The Lonely Shadows: Tales of Horror and the Cthulhu Mythos (other topics)
Where the Dead Go to Die (other topics)
Where the Dead Go to Die (other topics)
Dark Legion (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ramsey Campbell (other topics)R. Chetwynd-Hayes (other topics)
Wilkie Collins (other topics)
Russell James (other topics)
Silvia Moreno-Garcia (other topics)
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Chills by Mary SanGiovanni - I thought it was just a three book series but it seems there are four books in the series. I read book two years ago not realizing it was in a series. lol My luck! Might reread it though now that I read book one.
Reading now these books:
The Sun Down Motel
The Legend of the Kestrel
Vampires
YOUR HAUNTED LIVES: - REVISITED: Terrifying true stories of Ghosts, Hauntings and the Paranormal - Book 2