REVIEW: Untold Mayhem

 Untold Mayhem
Author: Mark Tullius

It took me awhile to get through all 24 stories in this story anthology. Not because they weren't good -- but because I wanted to take my time and enjoy just a couple tales at a time. 

I  love it when I come across a collection of horror stories that are as varied as this one. Every story was different.....some atmospheric and violent, some gory, others just downright creepy. While I liked some of the tales more than others, there wasn't a single one I didn't enjoy. 

This is my first venture into horror by Mark Tullius. I'm definitely going further down this dark path -- I like his writing! 

I listened to the audio book version of this story collection. Great listening experience. All the narrators were talented. I love horror stories on audio -- just adds an extra dimension to the creepy experience! 

**I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this audio book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Greyfriars Reformatory

 Greyfriars Reformatory
Author: Frazer Lee

Emily has mental health issues. Her dissociative disorder and its behavior issues lands her in a reformatory. Not just any institution....but Greyfriars Reformatory. Creepy place. Creepy staff. Creepy secrets.....

This story is so atmospheric! I could almost place myself on that rickety, horrible bus riding to Greyfriars with the girls. This story would make an awesome movie! 

I'm not going to say much about the plot -- no spoilers. This is definitely a story that is better with absolutely NO prior knowledge of events. Don't read reviews....don't read blurbs --- read the book!!!

This story kept my attention from start to finish. Creepy atmosphere. Great character development. Excellent suspense. And lots of twisty goodness! Loved it! 

This is the second book I've read by Frazer Lee. Hearthstone Cottage is also a very good, suspenseful story. I'm definitely going to read more -- I like Lee's style! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Portal

 The Portal
Author: Russell James

Allie Layton returns to Stone Harbor. She expects her return to be a great place to restart her life away from the pressures and rat-race of LA and Hollywood. Scott Tackett -- part of her past -- is there, too. He now runs his father's hardware store. Just as it appears they are going to rekindle their old friendship, a strange man comes to the island. Joey Oates. He's more than just dark, creepy and disturbing....he might just be the devil himself. And, he's there to finish a ritual that was interrupted 300 years ago. A ritual that will open the portal to hell.....

Oh my! This book definitely kept my attention from start to finish. The characters, plot and descriptions are well-crafted. This story has some rather disturbing elements and touches on some heavy topics -- rape, death of children, etc. But....if the devil was present tempting an island of unsuspecting people in preparation to open the gate to hell....bad, bad things would go down. So, definitely disturbing....but not overdone. 

This is the first book by Russell James that I've read. I'm definitely going to read more! This story creeped me out! Very entertaining!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. No deals with the devil were made in the writing of this review. Honest.**

Voodoo Heart

Author: John Everson

This book is an interesting mix....a blend of hard hitting detective novel and occult horror Voodoo style. Set in New Orleans, the story has a lot of rawness about it -- sex, blood, human sacrifice, pure evil....

Although I enjoyed the story, I just couldn't get away from the thought that I'd read so many stories like this before. There are 10000000 New Orleans Voodoo blood and guts everywhere books out there. And this is really just another one on the stack. I didn't particularly get into the characters, the action or the horror edge. 

This is a well-written story....and I did enjoy reading it for the most part. In the end, I think it's just a matter of the story not being for me. I've read too many jaded-detective-gets-embroiled-in-evil stories before,and just didn't get lost in this story like I wanted to. But that is just my opinion. It didn't work for me....doesn't mean others won't absolutely love it. 

It's a miss for me this time. I do look forward to more by this author though. The next book might be something I really love!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book by John Everson. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: After Sundown

 After Sundown
Author: Various

October is the perfect time to publish an anthology of horror stories! I decided to read this one for review for several reasons: I have enjoyed many horror novels published by Flame Tree Press; I love horror short story collections; and, 16 of these stories are by published authors I am familiar with and four of them were chosen from submissions sent to FTP. I'm always up for reading something by new-to-me authors! 

Any time a reader delves into a collection of 20 stories there will be tales they love and ones that just missed the mark. That's the joy of a short story anthology -- what one reader doesn't like, another one will. So there is something for everyone! There weren't any stories in this collection that I didn't finish or that I completely disliked. Some were awesome....others were just ok....and there were a couple that just didn't hit the mark for me. But, not every story is for every reader. For the most part, I enjoyed the offerings in this demented little horror collection!

This book definitely primed my desire to start reading horror stories. I get into Halloween mode once September starts every year. I love autumn....and I love horror stories! So I enjoy making the season last as long as possible!

I believe this horror anthology is going to be an annual thing for FTP. I'm definitely in line to buy a copy each year! The stories in this first anthology are varied, interesting and definitely creepy fun to read! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: A Clean Sweep

 A Clean Sweep
Author: Sara Bourgeois

I love books, but I tend to fall into ruts where I'm reading the same genre or two for months. And then I get to the day where I need something different. I usually go looking for a new-to-me author to jump into a series that bumps me out of my genre rut. That's how I found Sara Bourgeois' books....I wanted to try something different. And I'm so glad I did. This series is just FUN to read! I like the characters. The plots are interesting and entertaining. And, I like the mix of mystery, paranormal and humor. Plus, the audio books are short enough that I've been able to binge listen up to book four in a week. There are new books coming out -- and I want to start reading on release day! Then I don't fall victim to spoilers like I did with the earlier books in this series. (An author, of all people should know better than to post a huge plot spoiler in a review! I accidentally read it while posting my review for a book I had just finished. So annoying!)

A Clean Sweep is Book 4 in the Wicked Witches of Coventry series. Ghost hunters are in town to investigate. Brighton, Remy and the gang are called upon by the city to escort the ghost hunters around town (and to make sure they don't catch any video footage or EVPs that give away Coventry's hidden secrets). But (of course) things go wrong. Very wrong. Murderously wrong.....

I listened to the audio book version of this story. At 3.5 hours, the audio is a nice, quick listening length. I enjoyed listening on my commutes, while doing household chores after work, etc. Rebecca Mitchell does a great job of narrating. She has a pleasant voice and reads at a perfect pace. Not too slow....and not too fast. She rings the characters to life....even the snarky kitty cat familiar. :) 

Fun series! Moving on to Book 5....Panic Broom. This is the last of the series that I could find on audio, so will have to move through the rest of the series at a slower pace. I can only read print/ebooks in the evening or on weekends, but I'm definitely going to keep reading! And there is a spin-off series, Familiar Kitten Mysteries, that I'm really looking forward to reading! 

REVIEW: Broom with a View

 Broom With a View
Author: Sara Bourgeois

Things in Coventry keep getting weirder....     Brighton wakes up one morning to see a very hunky man working in her yard. What's the stranger doing there? Plus there may be a killer lurking in the shadows....and one of her family shows up. Never a dull moment!

The Witches of Coventry is an entertaining, fun cozy mystery series. I'm enjoying the characters, the plots and the touch-of-paranormal in this series. Definitely a great cozy series to enjoy in October!

Brighton is intelligent, just coming into her witchy powers, and a great amateur sleuth. Her familiar is snarky and quite talented. Annika and Remy great side characters. Thorne is a bit brooding, but still likable. 

I like the mix of mystery, paranormal and humor in this series. I'm enjoying the shorter length as well. The audio books range in length from 3-4 hours each. I can easily listen during my commute and while doing housework and finish a story in 1-2 days. Nice listening length! Rebecca Mitchell does a great job narrating. She really brings the characters to life. 

Broom With a View is the 3rd book in the series. I have been binge listening.....streaking right through the first 3 books and on to the 4th now within the same week. After book 5 though I will have to slow down -- no audio books. Books 6-11 will have to be evening and weekend reading. And, then there's a spin off series -- Familiar Kitten Mysteries! 

I'm glad I found this series! I needed something entertaining and fun to read/listen to that was a shorter length. Something less involved...and just....FUN. Brain candy. A story to get lost in that lets me relax and just enjoy reading. Covid19......the pace of my job.....home responsibilities....just the stress of 2020 in general ---- I needed a break. This series fits that perfectly!!!!