Review: Double Visions

Double Visions

by Matt Drabble

Synopsis

It has been 8 years since the country cowered in fear as the serial killer christened The Crucifier wreaked bloody havoc.

Jane Parkes had always considered her ability a fine line between a gift and a curse. She calls it The Shadow World, a place where she can see through the eyes of killers and help bring them to justice.

Her desperation to prove herself led to a basement confrontation that she wasn’t prepared for. As a result the Detective that had allowed her to work on the case lay dead alongside the killer.

She put away her ability to see inside the minds of monsters for 8 long years, but now someone else has taken up The Crucifiers’ mantle. Someone is killing again, only this time The Shadow World is a two way street and he wants to play.

Sucked into a desperate race for survival Jane is going to learn that sometimes when you stare into the darkness, someone stares back.

Review

This is not the first Matt Drabble book that I have reviewed and I sure hope it is not the last! Talk about creepy, psychological fun! Drabble's books have a way to keep you guessing and this one is no exception. Maybe it's because I am a huge fan of the horror genre, whether we're talking books or movies, but I love being taken on a roller coaster ride of suspense and fear. Jane Parkes has a fantastic (and horrifying) gift in being able to see through the eyes of a murderer which she uses to help bring some justice for the victim. This book is a nonstop thrill ride - I highly enjoyed it!

Verdict

Read if horror and suspense are your thing.

Sometimes when you stare at the darkness, someone stares back.

I love that!

About the Author

Born in Bath, England in 1974, a self-professed "funny onion", equal parts sport loving jock and comic book geek. I am a lover of horror and character driven stories. I am also an A.S sufferer who took to writing full time two years ago after being forced to give up the day job.

I have a career high position of 5th on Amazon's Horror Author Rank of which I am immensely proud.

"GATED" is a UK & US Horror Chart Top Ten Best Seller & winner of the Full Moon Awards 2014 Horror Book of the Year.

"ASYLUM - 13 TALES OF TERROR" is a US Horror Chart #5 It was also voted #5 on The Horror Novel Review's Top 10 Books of 2013 & is a Readers Favorite 2014 Gold Medal Winner.

Both "THE TRAVELLING MAN" and "ABRA-CADAVER" won Indie Book of the Day awards.

Visit me at www.mattdrabble.com to download a free short story.

Twitter: MattDrabble01

Facebook: matt.drabble.3

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Review: Anna Dressed in Blood

Anna Dressed in Blood
by Kendare Blake

Synopisis

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. 

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life. 

Anna Dressed in Blood is a 2011 Kirkus Best Teen Books of the Year title. 

One of NPR's Top 5 Young Adult Novels of 2011.

Review

I am always on the look out for a good horror/thriller book. If you read my blog occasionally, you already know this. With that in mind, I have never NEVER read a book like Anna Dressed in Blood. I found it to be highly interesting, entertaining and unlike anything else I've read. I'm very much used to reading books from the female perspective because that is simply what I'm drawn to. This book, however, is from the POV of Cas, a teenage boy with the ability to see and get rid of spirits. 

Then one day Cas is called out to another city and with his mom in tow, he begins his research into the spirit story called Anna Dressed in Blood. What he finds, however, is unlike everything he has ever experienced. Anna is meticulous in how she those who enter her home - until she meets Cas. For some reason, Cas is different and is spared. The rest of the book is spent trying to unravel the mystery behind Anna Dressed in Blood and the connection her story has to Cas.

You know, dear reader, not to expect spoilers from this book blog and I intend to keep it that way. But listen when I say - if you like scary books, do not pass up on this one!

Verdict

Horror, with a little confusing romance, never hurt anyone - did it? 

Review: The Montague Portrait

The Montague Portrait
by Matt Drabble

Synopsis

"Matt Drabble is a name that will one day be as widely recognized as Stephen King & Dean Koontz" - READERS FAVORITE 

From the award winning and best selling author of "Gated" & "Asylum" comes "The Montague Portrait"

Hugo Montague was a man of boundless cruelty that lived on beyond his mortal days. The portrait that he commissioned has hung on many walls, but has always overseen tragedy and murder.

The painting was long thought destroyed in a fire, but now there are those desperate to find the portrait if it still exists

Travis Parker was an insurance investigator, but now he is a widower trapped within his own pain and broken promises. When he is approached by the mysterious Telfer Vargas to track down the portrait he reluctantly agrees to one last case.

Charlotte Goode has a long personal history with the painting and will let nothing stand in her way to avenge her family.

The race across Europe to find the painting soon becomes littered with death as dark supernatural forces converge and threaten to consume those foolish enough to look.

Review

I've had the pleasure to review Matt Drabble's works before and not one of his books fails to disappoint! The characters in this book, including the painting itself, are thoroughly developed. I am a huge fan of horror and suspense works, be they in writing or film and Drabble does not disappoint. It is a truly creepy story and I suggest that if you enjoy horror, that you also check out Drabble's other works - you'll love them!

About the Author

Born in Bath, England in 1974, a self-professed "funny onion", equal parts sport loving jock and comic book geek. I am a lover of horror and character driven stories. I am also an A.S sufferer who took to writing full time two years ago after being forced to give up the day job. 

I have a career high position of 5th on Amazon's Horror Author Rank of which I am immensely proud.

"GATED" is a UK & US Horror Chart Top Ten Best Seller

"ASYLUM - 13 TALES OF TERROR" is a US Horror Chart #5 It was also voted #5 on The Horror Novel Review's Top 10 Books of 2013 & is a Readers Favorite 2014 Gold Medal Winner.

"ABRA-CADAVER" won an Indie Book of the Day award.

2014 has also been a milestone year for me so far as I recently passed 100,000 downloads of my work.

Visit me at www.mattdrabble.com

Twitter: MattDrabble01

Facebook: matt.drabble.3 

or to sign up for a newsletter: http://mad.ly/signups/95503/join

Bookish Thought of the Day: Scary Stories

So - I was just minding my business today when I was told that Annabelle from The Conjuring and Annabelle prequel movies was on campus. What??? That's pretty cool for the university that I work at - awesome! (pssst! If I get to see her, I'll update this post with a photo)

Of course, the talk quickly turned to horror movies and real life ghost stories which reminded me to search for "horror books" on Pinterest. Every year I get in the mood for scary stories around this time and even until after Halloween - but the holiday always seems to pass me by even though it is my favorite one. 

I refuse to let this Halloween pass me by! I am determined to not only read a bunch of scary books and stories, but also to watch a bunch of horror movies. I'll blog about them as I go. I've already been assigned some books to review which is no problem - I will do as promised - but from here until early November - my focus will be on all things horror! So hit me with your recommendations - film or book - and I will add them to my list. Once I compile a good looking list, I'll make sure to share. Let the scares begin!

Short Story Friday: PCA

"PCA"
Midnight Paths
by Joe Hart

Book Synopsis

Enter a world where nothing is what it seems. Where darkness never abates, and your deepest fears are just a few steps away. 

Travel to an old house in the country where something hungry waits just beyond the treeline. 

Watch as a young woman, whose life hangs in the balance, receives a visitor from the afterlife. 

Or, journey across an ocean on a romantic voyage that ends in the deepest kind of horror. 

This dark collection of the macabre is sure to chill the bones of even the most stalwart horror aficionado.

Review

"Love does funny things to you, son."

And boy does it! In this story, the reader accompanies Eric, a caregiver, to a patient's home. He's there covering for a co-worker of his. What he finds, however, is something unique.

This is a short story that is able to provide enough suspense and dread within its short number of pages. There is plenty of great description and it's creepy as heck. I look forward to reading more creepy stories from this collection!

Verdict

Dear reader, this collection is not for the faint of heart. This story was so creepy that this collection is now a Short Story Friday favorite! you'll be seeing more from me about this author. 

Bookish Movies: Movies with Books

Just Take My Money.

Can we take a moment and talk about the craziness that is my Book Wish List on Amazon??? As if I don't have a lot of books already. I am an addict.

But anyway - I wanted to highlight some books I'm looking forward to getting and reading!

First up is Louise Erdrich's Books & Islands in Ojibwe Country. When I was a undergrad and had to take "filler classes" in order to receive financial aid (that's right), I decided to take a couple of lit classes because I was a Psych major and didn't know where else to fit some lit classes haha. Both were taught by the same professor, who was/is AWESOME. The first class was Intro to American Fiction and the second was Native American Literature. I loved both classes, but the Native American Lit course was, and remains, the absolute best class ever. It was through that class that I was introduced to Erdrich's writing and the emotion that her writing gives me has stayed with me ever since. 

This book is already out now - I suggest giving this author a read.





Now, some books I'm looking forward to owning after they release...

All I've read about Zac & Mia is that it resembles Eleanor & Park as well as The Fault in Our Stars.

...

...

I'm sold. Just take my money. 

I'm not entirely sure how Amity is going to work, but I'm a big fan of horror and especially the weirdness that is Amityville horror. With that said - you know I'm looking forward to this. 

Conversion is apparently about a series of symptoms/illnesses plaguing the teenage girl population at a boarding school. These symptoms, however, have a striking resemblence to those experieced during the Salem witch trials.

It sounds creepy - I'm in.

This one is out now - hope to get it as soon as the cash flow comes haha













Hope you enjoyed this new type of post! Talk to me - I feel like conversing with my online people...if I HAVE online people....

Also, thinking of starting up my book channel on YouTube again...

Review: The Merciless

The Merciless
by Danielle Vega

Synopsis

Brooklyn Stevens sits in a pool of her own blood, tied up and gagged. No one outside of these dank basement walls knows she’s here. No one can hear her scream.
 
Sofia Flores knows she shouldn’t have gotten involved. When she befriended Riley, Grace, and Alexis on her first day at school, she admired them, with their perfect hair and their good-girl ways. They said they wanted to save Brooklyn. They wanted to help her. Sofia didn’t realize they believed Brooklyn was possessed.
 
Now, Riley and the girls are performing an exorcism on Brooklyn—but their idea of an exorcism is closer to torture than salvation. All Sofia wants is to get out of this house. But there is no way out. Sofia can’t go against the other girls . . . unless she wants to be next. . . .
 
In this chilling debut, Danielle Vega delivers blood-curdling suspense and terror on every page. By the shockingly twisted end, readers will be faced with the most haunting question of all: Is there evil in all of us?

Review

I LOVED this book! I had been in the mood for something scary/creepy and this fit the bill just fine. It had been so long since I've read a YA book that actually creeped me out. Vega does a great job of incorporating flash backs and so-called cliches into what turns out to be quite a unique story! Through the point of view of Sofia, we get to experience so many emotions and...well, I won't give it away.

I read a review somewhere that said this was a bad imitation of Mean Girls. Well, let me tell you that, as much as I love Mean Girls, this story goes beyond the popular girls. Anyone who thinks that's what this book is about has it very very wrong. 

Vega says in her ending credits that her husband, who does not like scary stories, should prepare himself for the next one she has brewing. I cannot wait to read anything else that comes from this great debut author!

Verdict

If you love scary stories - this is for you. HOWEVER, please realize that there is talk of sex, violence, addiction and other unpleasant things in this book. It's a great story, but I don't want anyone getting triggered or feeling uncomfortable when reading should be fun!

Short Story Fridays: Infernal Attractors

Infernal Attractors
by Cody Goodfellow

Collection: Cthulhurotica

Review 

This story was much shorter than I thought and I promise you, reader, I did not choose it because it was so short. I don't know if it should really be classified as a story since it feels that you're walking into the middle of a story already. But perhaps that's the point? 

The story is about a man who built a machine/contraption called a Tillinghast resonator for a beautiful woman he is apparently in a relationship with. The protagonist explains that the woman distracts him from his questions [about what he is building] by constantly having sex with him. The little bits and pieces he does seem to gather are from when she is half asleep.

*spoiler*

So, I had to look up what a "Tillinghast resonator" was in order to understand what the point of this story was. Wiki explains the creator of the resonator, Tillinghast, is a character in one of H.P. Lovecraft's stories and says it is the following: 

Tillinghast creates an electronic device that emits a resonance wave, which stimulates an affected person’s pineal gland, thereby allowing them to perceive planes of existence outside the scope of accepted reality.

So, do with that what you will...

Verdict

I don't really have an opinion. It was barely a story...

Top Shelf Short Stories: The Black Cat

The Black Cat
by Edgar Allan Poe

*sigh* Sorry readers - I'm trying to get over my Oscars-depression. I really wanted Leo to win. 

Anyway, today's story comes from a collection of Poe's stories and poems that I've had for oh-so-many-years and only today opened it up. The story is The Black Cat and it was fantastic!

The story is about a man who, at first, has his stuff together. He has a wife and a love of animals that results in their acquiring of many pets. Among them, a black cat named Pluto who becomes a favorite of the man. Slowly, however, the man delves into a downward spiral with his alcoholism. Then, one day, in a fit of alcohol-induced rage and frustration, the man kills the black cat. Believing he has cleaned up his tracks regarding the cat, he is astounded to find a cat who bears a striking resemblance to Pluto around. The cat follows him everywhere - haunting him.

That isn't the end of the story because you, dear reader, should really go and read this for yourself. Chilling and haunting - now I understand the lure of Poe's writing. 

Verdict

Read it because you deserve to read something good. 

Top Shelf Short Stories: Descent of the Wayward Sister

Descent of the Wayward Sister
by Gabrielle Harbowy

Yeah, you read right...erotica.

Double yeah, you read right...Cthulhurotica. 

I never EVER would have read anything in this book about a week ago. And now I'm considering buying the ebook (I read this from an Amazon sample) - all because of Bonnie Burton from Vaginal Fantasy. This online book group has made me become more open-minded in what I read.

So - that's how Cthulhurotica happens. 

First, a little background for those of you who may not now what a Cthulhu is. Cthulhu is this this creature (or type of creature) created by H.P. Lovecraft. It's basically this creature with tentacles (see cover of this book). 

Now, onto the story. It was a steamy interesting read. It surprised me because it had the idea of attraction and/or lust at the center of it instead of the story being about attaining a man. The story takes place during the time of servants and before televisions. It is about a woman who is staying at her brother's place for awhile. The woman becomes bored because her brother is never around and she is never introduced to anyone else who visits the home. 

One day, she's roaming the home and then hears a pleading coming from the basement. Thinking that a maid has locked herself in, the woman heads down to help her. What she finds goes beyond anything she could possibly imagine. 

I found this story to be interesting and unlike anything I've read. Of course, I don't read much erotica, but I found the monster link to be a great twist (even though I knew it was going to happen). Also, I don't know if the stories are meant to have some humor in them, but the last sentence of this story made me laugh out loud - in a good way. 

Verdict

Obviously skip if you're not into erotica, much less monster erotica. However, if you're feeling adventurous, try a sample from Amazon and see what you think!

Top Shelf Short Stories: Dead After Dying

Dead After Dying
by Dan DeWitt

A zombie story! No short story reading marathon would be complete without a zombie story! And this was a really good one - touching even. The story is about the narrator and his friend Donnie - who is a zombie. 

The storyline basically follows the narrator who has realized his friend is now a zombie and is trying to kill him. The narrator fights him off again and again, but finds it difficult to place the final blow. He says it's so because he keeps remembering the promises they made to each other, that they would go "beyond the end." 

This story is quite different than any other zombie story I've read. It's very sad and thus, very very good. 

Verdict

Read it because you, dear reader, deserve to read a good zombie story. 

Review: Thirty Scary Tales

Thirty Scary Tales
by Rayne Hall

Book Synopsis

Thirty creepy, atmospheric stories by Rayne Hall.

The horror in these stories is spooky, creepy, unsettling and sometimes disturbing. It is not very violent or gory; however, the stories may not be suitable for young readers without parental guidance. PG 13.

This book is a compilation of volumes 1-5 of the Six Scary Tales books. It includes the acclaimed stories Burning and The Bridge Chamber.

All stories have been previously published in magazines, ezines, collections and anthologies. British English.

Review

Okay, so - anyone who knows me in real life or has read this blog will know that I absolutely love horror/scary/thriller stories. Especially short stories. With that said, I really loved this collection! Spooky and disturbing stories that really held my attention throughout. A lot of readers, in my opinion, overlook the horror genre - possibly because they don't like horror or maybe they think it's cheesy? But honestly, bone-chilling stories are what it's all about for me! Any reader open to thinking outside the box and who can open up their imagination would most definitely enjoy this collection!

Verdict

Read if you don't mind being scared!

About the Author

Rayne Hall has published more than forty books under different pen names with different publishers in different genres, mostly fantasy, horror and non-fiction. Recent books include Storm Dancer (dark epic fantasy novel), 13 British Horror Stories, Six Scary Tales Vol. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5(creepy horror stories), Thirty Scary Tales, Six Historical Tales Vol. 1 and 2 (short stories), Six Quirky Tales (humorous fantasy stories),  The Colour of Dishonour: Stories from the Storm Dancer World, Writing Fight Scenes, The World-Loss Diet, Writing About Villains, Writing About Magic and Writing Scary Scenes (practical guides for authors).

She holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing. Currently, she edits the Ten Tales series of multi-author short story anthologies: Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires, Haunted: Ten 

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Thirty-Scary-Tales-ebook/dp/B00EGFCS32/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379392719&sr=1-1&keywords=Thirty+Scary+Tales

Top Shelf Short Story: Beyond the Door

Short Story: Beyond the Door

Collection: Philip K. Dick: Short Stories
Author: Philip K. Dick

Review

Dear reader, this review is a day late. 

That's all. Seriously, what did you expect? 

Anyway, I've never read anything by Philip K. Dick and even though this was a very simple and very short story, it intrigued me to read more of his work. This story is about a man, Larry, who buys a cuckoo clock for his wife. Larry is not the most sensitive husband in the world which is why most people, and this particular clock, don't like him. 

You read right. The clock does not like Larry. The birdie inside refuses to come out for him but adores his wife. So when Larry kicks his wife out of the house...well, the birdie doesn't like that at all. 

As I said, it's a REALLY short story, but effective in its storytelling. It has that mystery/horror element that gets me (especially during this time).

Verdict

Read it! It's short and fun :)

Top Shelf Short Story: The Bloody Chamber

Short Story: The Bloody Chamber

Collection: The Bloody Chamber
Author: Angela Carter

Review

Well. That wasn't what I was expecting.

But, dear reader, that's not a bad thing! I had read that Carter's The Bloody Chamber was a collection of fairy tale/folklore retelling with a sensual and dark twist. So, that much I was expecting. However, I didn't think I'd have to play a guessing game with what tale was being retold, for one, and two, I didn't know how dark it would be! Not that this bothers me, mind you. I love the dark and creepy stories out there. This short story was a great one to kick off my October short story month. I'll gladly tell you a vague synopsis before I urge you to read the story yourself. 


The story is about a young girl who chooses to get married to a much MUCH older (and richer) man purely out of need. This girl comes from a one-parent household since her father died when she was a lot younger. The girl's mother knows her daughter doesn't love this man, but the young girl is determined to marry him anyway. Carter's writing provides a lot of symbolism and visual cues to the reader. Everything described, however, is practically dripping with dread. Even though the young girl is trying to make the most of her situation, you can't help but feel that she has definitely made the wrong decision in marrying this man. 

At first, I thought this story was based on Little Red Riding Hood. There is a lot of mentioning of the color red (His wedding gift, clasped around my throat. A choker of rubies, two inches wide, like an extraordinarily precious slit throat) and of, well, death. But color me surprised when I researched the story after finishing it that I got the completely wrong story. Click here if you're curious what it's really about. 

Beware! This story (and the whole book, probably) is not for the young or easily-embarrassed/squeamish. There is sex and death all over this work. You've been warned!

Verdict

A great pick for a first short story read! I can't wait to get to Carter's other retellings later this month. Have I mentioned I'm a sucker for a fairy tale retelling? :)

New Feature: Top Shelf Short Stories

I don't think I've plugged my favorite podcast here, which is INSANE because they are awesome and the podcast is all about books. My most favorite podcast (offered in iTunes, but they also have other platforms) is Books on the Nightstand with Michael Kindness and Ann Kingman. If you have not listened to this podcast, you have no idea what you're missing. Also, their website kicks major butt. 

Anyway, I got the idea of Top Shelf Short Stories because of Ann Kingman. Ann's resolution for the new year was to read a short story each day for a year. I, on the other hand, am not so ambitious, and am settling for Top Shelf Short Stories for the month of October (and maybe I will prolong it, depending on how I do). 

So, dear reader, I need your help. I have plenty of short story collections, but I am rather greedy when it comes to the written word. SO - here is where you come in, reader. I'd appreciate any story recommendations! If you can't think of any, don't fret! I'll be hosting polls so you can vote for upcoming stories or authors. I'm making this part up as I go! :D

Stay tuned and please, join in and give me your recommendations!

Review: Dreams of the Dead

Dreams of the Dead
by Thomas Randall

Synopsis

Kara Foster thinks the hardest thing about moving to Japan will be fitting in as an outsider. But dark secrets are stirring at her new school. When Kara befriends Sakura, a fellow outsider whose rebellious nature sets her apart from the crowd, she learns that Sakura's sister was the victim of an unsolved murder on school grounds. And before long, terrible things begin to happen.

It starts with nightmares - strange, otherworldly dreams that wake Kara in terror every night. Then more students start turning up dead, with strange marks on their bodies. Is Sakura getting revenge on those she suspects are responsible for her sister's death? Or has her dead sister come back to take revenge for herself?


Review

I think I should start off with telling you, dear reader, how I very much love horror stories, be it in books, tv or movies. I should also add that my favorite kind of horror stories are Asian ones. So, I might be biased in reviewing my latest read.

This story begins with Kara and her father moving to Japan after the death of Kara's mother. With the worries of attending a new school in a new country comes the eerie feeling of something not being quite right. The sudden unsolved murder/death of a student a few months before has some people on edge. Little does Kara know that the school she's attending and the people within have many secrets to hide.

I haven't read many reviews about this book because I figured someone would ruin it for me. In my opinion, I think that many people do not understand or enjoy Asian horror stories. Maybe they find it too fantasy-like or gruesome, but I love the darkness of the stories. Many of them are about revenge and I think that's a topic we tend to gloss over in our fiction. Dreams of the Dead is a quiet book and that helps the tone for suspense concerning the plot. When I say quiet, by the way, I mean that it's slow and steady in parts which helps build the thrill. I can see how some who are used to action-filled horror stories or movies might be turned off by this, but the Japanese books I've read so far do a really good job at letting the suspense build slowly. I quite enjoy it.

I wish parts of the book had been a bit more detailed and the book longer, in general. Regardless, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to any horror/suspense fan.

Extra

The book is a part of a trilogy called The Waking. Both other books are already out, but I have only been able to find the third in ebook form...which makes me very sad. If anyone knows where I can get an actual copy (if it exists) please let me know!

For fans of:

Ryu Murakami
The Ring
The Grudge
Asian horror

Rating

Review: Asylum: 13 Tales of Terror

Asylum: 13 Tales of Terror
by Matt Drabble

Book Synopsis

Blackwater Heights is a building with a long dark history, some of it is well known but more is shrouded in myth and legend. None more so than that of its founding father Horace Whisker.

Martin Parcell is an ex-journalist with shattered dreams of an author's career. Sidelined through a car crash's injuries, he finds himself forced through governmental austerity measures having to take a custodians position at a private mental health hospital. A writer with undoubted talent, but an author without a story.

He begins his new job deep in depression and drowning under waves of his lost dreams. On his first night he meets Jimmy, his elderly supervisor who has spent most of his life within the hospital walls. Jimmy is nearing retirement age and desperate to rest his weary bones. Jimmy offers Martin a way out for both of them, access to the background histories and stories of the hospital's patients. A collection of 13 tales from the darkly disturbed minds of the residents of Blackwater Heights.


As the long night unwinds, Martin finds himself deeply troubled as the tales unfold before him and threaten to drag him down into their insanity.

Review

I am a sucker for a good horror/thriller story. Ever since I was a kid, summers were made for reading a scary story next to a window, a rolling thunderstorm just outside. With that said, I'm very particular about my horror stories. For example, I kinda dislike Stephen King's writing. I say kinda because I did enjoy Carrie and, of course, many of his short stories.

But I digress. 

(or maybe it's because Drabble reminds me of the good stuff I like from King? Hmmm)

What Matt Drabble has done in his short stories is please the palate of a horror fan that needs to have their attention grabbed! Whoa, tongue twister. What I mean is that, just how some authors need 500 pages to get their point across, there are some authors who succeed in capturing what they need in a small fraction of those pages. That, is what Drabble has done. The characters and stories grabbed my attention and the stories were unique, but tied together. 

This is an interesting read for any horror fan. The stories are entertaining and I dare you not to finish them in one day. Hey, better yet, turn down the lights, turn off the tv and cuddle up with these stories tonight - talk about being afraid of the dark!

About the Author

Born in Bath, England in 1974, a self-professed "funny onion", equal parts sport loving jock and comic book geek.

Loving literature from an early age and reading so many works of varied authors, I took the somewhat foolhardy decision to attempt to write my own novels. I have always been an avid fan of the Horror/Supernatural genres and find that many great works in this field are automatically dismissed due to their subject matter.

I am currently embarking on a yearlong mission to try and attempt to make a dent in the writing market. I have finished 4 novels and am around half way through my 5th, setting myself a rate of 2000 words a day. It is a hard slog to combine the day job and my dream job, but after some success with my 3rd novel, I am re-energised and more determined than ever. 

My third novel "Gated" hit the #1 spot on the Amazon UK free Horror chart and when it went back on sale had a high of #4 on the UK Amazon Horror Chart and #2 on the Horror/Thriller chart.

My 4th Novel is called “Asylum” and is an anthology of short horror stories. It is also an Amazon UK & US Horror/Anthology Chart #1

I am currently in the proofing stages of my 5th novel which is a Horror/Thriller called “Abra-Cadaver”.

Twitter: @MattDrabble01

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/matt.drabble.3