Book Review: Old Flames

Old Flames
by Jack Ketchum

Synopsis: Burned again. Men never treated Dora well. This latest cheated on her and dumped her. The last decent guy she knew was her old high school boyfriend, Jim. He’d said that he loved her. Maybe he did. So with the help of the Old Flames Agency, Dora’s found him again. Turns out he’s married with two kids, but Dora isn’t about to let that stand in her way.

I'm a pretty big fan of Jack Ketchum, having read a good half-dozen or so of his works, and this is the most disappointing one I've read yet I think. It's just a straight-up by-the-numbers thriller with no twists during a very short story that's been told hundreds of times.

It's a very short, fast read (it's actually a novella) as the pace flies along and had no problem holding my interest. The lead character was intriguing, but never really revealed nearly as deeply as she could have been. That could have helped the book a lot. It also just sets a course in the first few chapters that it never deviates from and anybody who reads any thrillers can pretty much predict the rest of the book.

As a horror novel, there wasn't much violence or horror. As a thriller, it falls short of many thrills. As a character study, it only scratches the surface. As a Jack Ketchum novel, it's disappointing.

4/10

Book Reviews: Sex Money Kiss

Sex Money KISS
by Gene Simmons

Synopsis: Exhibiting an abiding faith in self and an ability to think outside the traditional parameters of ethics, religion, rituals and social mores, rock legend and Kiss founding member Simmons offers his no holds barred life philosophy. Presenting the book as access to the American dream of money and happiness, Simmons recounts his rise from an immigrant boy who did not speak English until his teens and paid for college buying and selling old comic books, to his current music, recording, acting and publishing successes. Simmons touches on a range of topics, including investment advice, his brief stint as a teacher and behind the scenes Kiss business negotiations.

I've been a KISS fan as long as I can remember, and I really respect Gene for what he's accomplished in his life and I've shoveled plenty of my money into his deep pockets, but let's face it... he's an ass. This book will do nothing to dispel any thoughts of that, nor does it try to. Gene tells it like it is and gives his opinions on topics, mainly around the subject of "how to get money and keep it." He's as brash and arrogant as ever... but the guy knows of which he speaks. I don't agree with a lot of what he says but that doesn't make it any less interesting to hear his take on things.

Negatives? He bashes on Ace and Peter (as usual) and even if they deserve it and it's all true... enough already. We get it; they're idiots. There wasn't a whole lot about Paul either, but it is Gene's book I guess. He only briefly touches on KISS' history and music, choosing to talk more about their merchandising and all his behind the scenes sort of moves to keep the profits coming in. My biggest annoyance with the book though is that there are little "asides" sort of in their own boxes where he might go on about a topic, but during the actual reading of the book he says a lot of what was said in the aside. It's sort of hard to explain I guess, it just annoyed me that I was reading the same thing twice often. Minor issues though.

It's a decent read, but nothing mind-blowing. If you don't want to read it for yourself, I'll help you out with these things right from the noggin' of The Demon himself:

* The harder you work, the luckier you'll get.

* Time is money.

* Never get married.

* Avoid alcohol and drugs.

* Nothing will come to you. You have to go after it.

* Dumb men will always get married. So will smart women.

* Originality is highly overrated.

* Keep your eyes and ears open.

So read it if you're a KISS fan of course but also you might find it enjoyable if you're seeking a method to financial success or just chasing some sort of dream... rock star, actor, entrepreneur or just the dream of being rich. You might pick-up on some ideals you'll find useful, if you can ignore or laugh at some of Gene's silly and at times ridiculous posturing. It's hard to argue with his results though.

6/10

Book Review: Succulent Prey

Succulent Prey
by Wrath James White

Synopsis: Could serial killers be victims of a communicable disease? Fifteen years ago, Joseph Miles was attacked by a serial child murderer. He was the only one of the madman’s victims to survive. Now he himself is slowly turning into a cannibalistic killer. He can feel the urges, the burning needs, getting harder and harder to resist. Can anything stop him—or cure him—before he kills the only woman he’s ever loved? Or before he infects someone else?

One thing is for sure... Wrath James White is a hardcore horror writer. He pulls absolutely no punches in his writings, something which you'd think I'd have learned reading his novel The Ressurectionist but apparently I needed to have the point driven home even more, and this book does just that. It's just as vile and disgusting... maybe even moreso.



I like the thought of serial killing being passed on and a search for a cure. Sadly, it didn't touch on this as much as I'd liked and instead concentrated more on the gore. I feel it might have been more effective with less gore, as I just sort of got numb to it.

The book starts out with a bloody bang and never lets up, and at times that was a problem for me. With such disturbing happenings coming at you like a machine gun, a break here and there for some character development would be welcome. Doesn't happen. I think this leaves all the characters pretty unsympathic and without a hero to cheer for, or without a horse in the race as the old timers might say, I'm not so sure I cared about the outcome any more than I was just sort of ready for the repulsiveness to end so I could take a shower and start a non-horror book.

But having said all that, it's a fast read and the story and graphic descriptions will stay with you. The pace is non-stop and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. This guy writes extreme horror so newbies to the genre will want to pass on this. It's bloody, gory, gross and stomach-turning... but hey, that's what extreme horror is. White is good and having read his newest book before this one so I can compare the 2... he's getting better.

6/10

Book Review: The Blind Side

The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game
by Michael Lewis

Synopsis: The story of a Michael Oher's rise to football stardom. The young man at the center of this extraordinary and moving story will one day be among the most highly paid athletes in the NFL. Plucked from the mean streets of Memphis by a wealthy family, he took up football and school, and turned out to possess the priceless combination of size, speed, and agility needed to guard the quarterback's greatest vulnerability: his blind side.

If you think this is just a "sports book" about a kid from the streets of Memphis making to the NFL against a lot of odds you're wrong. The writer gets pretty deep into football, specifically why the left guard is so important and the evolution of the position. He also gets into racial divides a lot, in and about the south in Memphis and at Ole Miss. There are multiple stories going on at once really, but the focal point is how this massive inter-city kid ended up in a white home on the rich side of Memphis. He could make all of this a whole lot more complicated, but I think he does a great job of making it accessible for anyone to enjoy. That's not to say it's dumbed down either. Far from it.

But I will say, if you don't care about football it's still probably going to get a bit too deep at times for you. You'll want to skip a few chapters.

It's a well written human interest story how a change in environment can produce incredible results. What if everybody had the same opportunities? How many underprivileged kids could make a difference in this world with someone who cared about them and had enough money to be allowed to live and learn on the same level?

A very inspirational and enjoyable read.

9/10

Book Review: The Christmas Miracle Dog

The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog
by Dave Barry

Synopsis: Junior high schooler Doug Barnes is playing a shepherd in the Christmas pageant at the bat-infested Episcopal Church. When the Barnes family dog dies on Christmas Eve, Doug and his father end up adopting a shelter dog, Walter, a charmer who manages to wreck the pageant.

Well, if you know me, you know I'm pretty cynical and jaded and like mean, angry stuff like heavy metal and horror long before I read or watch any of the schmaltzy, lovey-dovey stuff. But once in a while, especially around Christmas, I do try to see how the other half entertains with a few good Christmas tales (and ones that don't include zombies and such). This is one of those books you can read out loud to the kids right after you all watch Santa Claus Is Coming To Town as most of the humor is pretty juvenile.

If you're looking for deep or thought-provoking story telling, keep on looking. This is a just heartwarming, cute Christmas comedy and it's not trying to be anything else. I never laughed out loud nor did I cry (like some reviews I read) but I smiled a lot, chuckled and remember back to similar times in my youth at the holidays. Most of the humor is pretty cliched (it's like an episode of The Wonder Years mixed The Sandlot and shaken with some of A Christmas Story) and has been seen in most of the holiday movies by this point, but Barry's writing style is smooth and easy to enjoy nonetheless.

And you really can gather the kids 'round the fireplace and read it to them as it only takes about an hour to get all the way through and has a lot of cute pictures to share. Dog lovers will probably love it more, and non-dog lovers might just go (to a shelter hopefully) and buy their kids a dog for Christmas. Heck, read it to your dog I guess if you're so inclined.

It's not as "hilarious" as some reviews I read would have you believe, but it's cute and comical enough to enjoy every Christmas.

6/10

Book Review: The Resurrectionist

The Resurrectionist
by Wrath James White

Synopsis: Dale McCarthy has a unique and miraculous ability. He can bring the dead back to life, though the resurrected have no memory of their deaths. But not every miracle comes from God, and not every healer is a saint. Dale sure isn't.

2 words.... holy %$@*! This is just a brutal read. I read an interview with the author, a kickboxer, where the interviewer had this lead-in:

"Reading his fiction is like stepping into the ring with him; it is a brutal, intense experience that will leave you gasping and defeated, shocked and beaten. Like a fist of fury his words pummel you beyond recognition until you have to go crying home to Mommy."

I got a chuckle out of that as it seems like the typical over-hype nowadays that's used to try to draw attention. You can see a label on the front of some horrible DVD that says "scariest movie ever!" or a movie poster for a pathetic film that says "the movie of the year!" and it all means nothing anymore.

Except this time. This interviewer hit the nail right on the head, and this book is my first example (of many I must add) of how this Mr. White's mind works. And it's absolutely a place where the majority of readers are going to be offended, shocked and repulsed to go. Guys like Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee, Richard Laymon and Brian Keene set and continually push the bar up in horror and then along comes somebody like Wrath who takes the bar off, covers it in blood and shoves it up your... well, let's just get on to the book itself.

The premise is cool, sick, twisted and original...a kid discovers he has the power to bring back the dead and heal their wounds. Problem is, this guy is a creepy little evil bastard and he grows up to be a creepy, perverted evil bastard. But he can't get a woman, so he rapes and kills them (sometimes in that order, sometimes not) and brings them back to life so they don't remember it. He also tortures some of them and their husbands and even puts one through a Ned Beatty scene. He moves in across the street from a young couple and becomes obsessed with the wife, who somehow figures out what's going on... and all hell breaks loose.

Yes, it's all as sick as it sounds and he goes over every last detail. There's a whole lot of sex and gore and it goes to some very taboo areas. It's very fast-paced, intense, has a lot of OMG moments while not backing down one inch. It's just scary as hell to immerse yourself in, which you can't help but doing because the characters are all so everyday type people (well, except for the psycho I hope) and believable. He does a good job of establishing them with back stories and making them feel like normal folks in an abnormal situation.

There's also a whole other subtext of why would God give a power to such a person and a real question of faith and faithlessness.

And there's violence. Tons of violence.

I would only recommend this book to a few of my friends who I think would feel the same way I do about it as big fans of horror literature, and also who can stomach it. Most people are going to want to just whistle and walk past this in the book store. Trust me, it's hardcore and it won't leave your brain anytime soon as you finish it. Wrath James White is the real deal.

9/10

Book Review: Right To Life

Right To Life
by Jack Ketchum

Synopsis: Sara inadvertently becomes pregnant during her adulterous affair with the married Greg; as Greg declines to destroy his family, they decide on an abortion. As they make their way to a Manhattan abortion clinic Sara is abducted into a car by two declared Right to Lifers, and drugged into unconsciousness. She awakes naked and captive in a basement, which becomes a torture chamber.

A pretty typical brutal Jack Ketchum tale that speeds along with rapid pace and plenty of horror. I think it sort of lost it's way though, as the whole Right To Lifers bit just got left by the side of the road really. The psychopaths want the baby, but then eventually they don't really care about it anymore and just concentrate on torture not caring whether the unborn child lives or not. Seems to go against their whole reason and the point of the tale. I thought it would be more of a whole pro/anti abortion debate but that ends up as sort of the subtext to a tale of kidnapping and torture.

Still though, it's a gripping and solid horror tale without the abortion debate and not for the weak as per his usual M.O. Ketchum pulls no punches. It's violent and shocking. But it's not that one-dimensional as there is excellent character building and I found myself really pulling for Sara and repulsed by the kidnappers. It's very realistic and the psychological horror of it all is disturbing.

It's very short (a novella actually) and I think it could have been beefed up into a much longer story by possibly following Greg and what he was doing to find and rescue Sara. He's pretty much gone after the first few chapters.

The last Ketchum tale I read missed the mark a bit, but this one is more like what I've come to expect from him.

7.5/10

Book Review: Monster

Monster
by A. Lee Martinez

Synopsis: Judy works the night shift at the local Food Plus Mart. Not the most glamorous life, but Judy is happy. No one bothers her and if she has to spell things out for the night-manager every now and again, so be it. But when Judy finds a Yeti in the freezer aisle eating all the Rocky Road, her life collides with Monster's in a rather alarming fashion. Monster runs a pest control agency, but he doesn't catch raccoons; he catches the things that go bump in the night. Things like ogres, trolls, and dragons.

This was the first book of Martinez's that I've read and I was quite pleased with it. His sense of humor and style would probably easily compare to Douglas Adams I think. It's very inventive, fun and just silly at times, but the pace is quick and the characters are intriguing.

He paints a world where magic abounds, but most people still aren't able to see it. There are a lot of mythological monsters of fantasy, from dragons to yeti, mixed into an otherwise normal world and it makes for some funny and entertaining situations, leading to a decent (if not a bit predictable) climax.

My only real complaint is that the book doesn't do much in the way of character development and the 2 main characters are especially shallow and sort of hard to like. The lead character, Monster, is more of an anti-hero than hero and it's almost overdone a bit how little he cares.

Overall though it's a pretty quick, fun, light read if you enjoy the sort of thing Christopher Moore or Douglas Adams writes. It's creative, humorous and quite entertaining. I'll look for more books by Mr. Martinez. Who knew yetis liked ice cream so much?

7.5/10

Book Review: American Gods

American Gods
by Neil Gaiman

Synopsis: Shadow dreamed of nothing but leaving prison and starting a new life. But the day before his release, his wife and best friend are killed in an accident. On the plane home to the funeral he meets Mr. Wednesday — a beguiling stranger who seems to know everything about him. A trickster and rogue, Mr. Wednesday offers Shadow a job as his bodyguard. With nowhere left to go, Shadow accepts, and soon learns that his role in Mr. Wednesday's schemes will be far more dangerous and dark than he could have ever imagined. For beneath the placid surface of everyday life a war is being fought—and the prize is the very soul of America.

That synopsis seems pretty vague now that I've read the book. I guess it was meant to be, because what it says isn't really telling you much about the book's real storyline. It really involves an upcoming epic battle between the old gods of the immigrants and today's new gods credit cards, TV, and the Internet. It's sort of based on the old quote "when belief in a god dies, the god dies."

Because of the the subject matter and the mythic scope of it all, I really wanted to love this book. I mean I really tried to, but I just couldn't. It's just too busy too often for me and wasn't engaging enough to keep my attention, thanks to a lot of meandering and way too many characters. It keeps shifting the story from the battle of the gods to Shadow's life to strange subplots about secondary characters. It's written very noir style, but I personally just found it confusing. It's sort of like questions answered by other vaguer questions. By the end I liked it, but didn't love it as I wanted. I think it is an awesome idea and I love the rationale behind the plot, it's just a bit off in the execution for my tastes.

Since I finished it I've been to some websites discussing it and places that have a lot more about each of the characters and their roles so I am still enjoying the world created. I like how real places were used for some of key plot points in their travels and it gave it a real "road trip" sort of feel.

I know that a lot of people love this book so I'm really in the minority here in that I am in love with the ideas of the book, but not the book itself. Read it and see for yourself I guess.

6/10

Book Review: The Intruder

The Intruder
by Peter Blauner

Synopsis: John Gates is a mentally disturbed homeless man in Manhattan who has come to believe that a lawyer named Jake Schiff has stolen his family and ruined his life, and he begins to focus on Jake's wife. When Schiff takes up extreme measures to put an end to Gates' harassment, the world is turned upside down for both men. How far would you go to protect what's yours?

There's some pretty good characterizations in this John Grisham-eske thriller, and the story takes a few twists and turns while moving along at a nice, quick pace. It's got a bit less courtroom drama than a Grisham novel and quite a bit more violence, but it still reminded me of his work, and I mean that in a good way. I did think the outcome of main court case was pretty predictable and I saw it coming from the first few stages so that takes away from some of the suspense, but that's not where the story ends at least and what takes place afterwards pretty much put the stamp on the whole story.

Overall a nice morality play that sort of plays to people's paranoia about how fragile peace of mind is. If you like crime dramas, especially ones that co-star the city of New York and surrounding Burroughs, you'll enjoy this.

7.5/10

Book Review: Lockdown: Escape From Furnace

Lockdown: Escape From Furnace
by Alexander Gordon Smith

Synopsis: The series opener of this teen novel series, it's set in a squalid prison for juvenile offenders built deep underground and patrolled by surgically altered supermen with vicious, skinless dogs. Framed (like a suspicious number of his fellow inmates) for a murder he did not commit, Alex is plunged into a desperate struggle for survival amid constant sirens, lurid lighting, nightmares, gang violence, and terrifying encounters with the prison’s scary guardians.

Yes, ocassionally I read books aimed at young adults. All you Twlight, Hunger Games and Harry Potter fans just shut up right now. It's still pretty violent and even visceral, just not gratuitous or over-the-top. There's no foul language or sex.

The first thing you should know, there's no closure here. It's left as a cliffhanger. Obviously going to be a series and this one just does a lot of character introduction and set-up (I believe the next 2 books are called Solitary and Death Sentence... with a 4th on the way called Fugitives).

Actually a very fun, fast paced story with some nice young yet real characters, some terror (bordering on horror) and a bit of dark humor. A quick read, it's a survival story that hooks you in pretty quickly and never gets dull. There's some mildly graphic descriptions but really it's just a good solid story that's well written and interesting, for all ages. I'd recommend it, but probably starting at about age 15 or 16 and up. Unless you want your kids younger than that to read about torture, murder, violence, brutality and savagery. Watered down a bit? Sure, but still it's not Dr. Suess.

And of course, now I'll have to read the others since this one really leaves a lot of questions unanswered.

7/10

Book Review: Darkness On The Edge of Town

Darkness On The Edge of Town
by Brian Keene

From The Publisher: One morning the residents of Walden, Virginia, woke up to find the rest of the world gone. Just . . . gone. Surrounding their town was a wall of inky darkness, plummeting Walden into permanent night. Nothing can get in - not light, not people, not even electricity, radio, TV, Internet, food, or water. And nothing can get out. No one who dared to penetrate the mysterious barrier has ever been seen again. Only their screams were heard. But for some, the darkness is not the worst of their fears. Driven mad by thirst, hunger, and perpetual night, the residents of Walden are ready to explode. The last few sane prisoners of this small town must prepare a final stand against their neighbors, themselves, and something even worse... something out there... in the darkness.

I like Brian Keene quite a bit and have read several of his novels, but I think this one was a bit of a letdown. The plot is pretty straightforward, simple and interesting and he's drawn some great characters... but nothing really goes on and then the book ends abruptly.

It starts out strong and got me really involved, but then the majority of the pages are just spent with people trying to figure out what's happening. There are a couple of sequences of some action or gore, but mainly there's a lot of head scratching and chatting. There's the requisite "creepy old homeless guy" in town that seems to know what's going on and it's all quite interesting, but then it just doesn't go anywhere with it. There's no twist or feeling of completion. Or answers. Reading the synopsis I cut-and-pasted above pretty much leaves you with the same amount of knowledge as you get reading the entire book.

It's an interesting, short read but far from one of Keene's best for my taste. Try Stephen King's "Under the Dome" or "Mist" for similar tales maybe.

5/10

Book Review: The Black Train

The Black Train

by Edward Lee



Synopsis (from the publisher): WELCOME TO THE GAST HOUSE - A historical bed and breakfast or a monument to the obscene? Collier doesn't need to know the building's rich history: women raped to death for sport, slaves beheaded and threshed into the soil, and pregnant teenagers buried alive. Who or what could mitigate such horrors over 150 years ago? And what is the atrocious connection between the old railroad and the house? Each room hides a new, revolting secret. At night, he can smell the mansion's odors and hear its appalling whispers. Little girls giggle where there are no little girls, and out back, when Collier listens closely, he can hear the train's whistle and see the things chained up in its clattering prison cars. Little does he know, the mansion and the railroad aren't haunted by ghosts but an unspeakable carnality and a horror as palpable as excited human flesh. WELCOME TO A PLACE WORSE THAN HELL...



Civil War horror? I guess that's where you'd put this. I like Edward Lee so I checked this one out. In typical Lee fashion, it's pretty macabre, brutal and full of gore and sex. Also in typical Lee fashion he does a nice job of character building, and a couple of "heroes" of the book are very likable and interesting (especially for me since both are beer connoisseurs... one writes books on beer while the other is a brewer). I can relate.



The flashbacks are full of savagery and brutality for sure. Some of the scenes described will probably haunt you for a bit, so be warned. The book does a nice job of building suspense throughout as things unfold, but I have to say I was disappointed in the end really. I expected all hell to break loose, so to speak, and a crazy finish. Really, it's pretty tame compared to the set-up and a bit of a letdown to me. This left me feeling a little disappointed in it.



A good, dark "Civil War horror" novel, definitely worth a read, but I'm going to stop short of praising it like other Edward Lee titles I've read. Not bad, but not his best.



6/10

Book Review: I Am Ozzy

I Am Ozzy
by Ozzy Osbourne with Chris Ayres

Ozzy Osbourne ~ "People ask me how come I'm still alive, and I don't know what to say. When I was growing up, if you'd have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of sixty, which one of us would end up with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and Beverly Hills, I wouldn't have put money on me, no f'n way. But here I am: ready to tell my story, in my own words, for the first time. It haunts me, all this crazy stuff. Every day of my life has been an event. I took lethal combinations of booze and drugs for thirty f'n years. I survived a direct hit by a plane, suicidal overdoses, STDs. I've been accused of attempted murder. Then I almost died while riding over a bump on a quad bike at f'n two miles per hour. A lot of it ain't gonna be pretty. I've done some bad things in my time. I've always been drawn to the dark side, me. But I ain't the devil. I'm just John Osbourne: a working-class kid from Aston, who quit his job in the factory and went looking for a good time."

I've been waiting for years for Ozzy's memoir of his long and insane career and this book captures it pretty nicely. You're in the mind of a legendary rock n roll wild man and it's an entertaining place to be. He talks about his family, relationships, kids, parents, early jobs, jail time, drugs, sex, alcohol, guns, more drugs, more alcohol, Black Sabbath, solo years, Sharon and The Osbournes TV show. Some of the stories you've probably heard before, but it's good to hear Ozzy's version of peeing on the Alamo or what actually occurred in the conference room when he bit the head off of a dove or when he tried to strangle Sharon to death or when Randy's plane crashed or his side of the lawsuit by the parents of the kid who committed suicide. Sometimes it ain't pretty and I was frustrated with him for some of the stupid, self-destructive things he's done, but he doesn't back away from how much stupidity he's displayed in the past either.

Faults? Well he spent a lot of time on his drug and booze fueled antics and just flew right through a lot of his musical career. There's very little of Zakk Wylde and that whole era here, nothing to speak of about Jake E. Lee really, no mention of Joe Holmes on the Ozzmosis tour and just a few paragraphs really about his travelling metal show Ozzfest. There could be a whole crazy book on Ozzfest I'm guessing and I'd loved to have heard a lot more about Jake and Zakk and the songs and albums from those eras. That was disappointing. I think the book could add about 100-200 pages and hit these topics much heavier and be way more satisfying to the fans of Ozzy's solo work, not just of his fame and antics.

Still though, obviously a must read for fans of Black Sabbath (he covers these years pretty well), Ozzy Osbourne, and rock 'n' roll memoirs in general but it's highly memorable and recommended for anyone really. Ozzy has had a very "interesting" life to say the least. It feels very open and honest and is often quite humorous.

8/10

Book Review: Snow

Snow
by Ronald Malfi

Synopsis: When a group of travelers have their flight canceled due to bad weather, they rent a car and begin a treacherous journey home. They find themselves stranded in a seemingly deserted town. However, there's something alive in the snow... and it's hungry.

This is the first novel I've read from Malfi and if it's a good indication of his style I'll be looking for more of his work. He's got a very nice narrative style that flows with good descriptiveness. It reminded me a bit of the work of Dean Koontz or Richard Laymon the way it takes off right from the beginning and never lets up. There's some character development, but it's squeezed in between lots of action. Most of the main characters feel very human and are nicely crafted.

The story itself has a bit of the same-old-same-old, as in a small isolated town, cut off by a blizzard, being overtaken by something sinister etc and so forth, but the inventive twist of the way snow comes in to play is cool and unique. It's pretty creative really and never really explained exactly what the hell is going on, although the characters have their own theories. The atmosphere becomes pretty suspenseful and creepy and there's plenty of horror and gore to go around.

If you like the way Stephen King draws his characters combined with John Carpenter's The Thing and possibly even some Lovecraftian horror at the breakneck pace of Richard Laymon... check this out.

8/10

Book Review: Red

Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock
by Sammy Hagar

Synopsis: For almost forty years, Sammy Hagar has been a fixture in rock music. From breaking into the industry with the band Montrose to his multi-platinum solo career to his ride as the front man of Van Halen, Sammy's powerful and unforgettable voice has set the tone for some of the greatest rock anthems ever written. Sammy tells the outrageous story of his tear through rock 'n' roll, detailing the backstage antics and nonstop touring that have made his voice instantly recognizable. Beginning with his musical coming-of-age in the blue-collar towns of California, Sammy traces his rough and determined rise to fame, working harder than anyone else out there and writing songs about the things he loved -fast cars, loud parties, and lots of good times.

Well there's no denying that Sammy Hagar is driven to succeed and worked his ass off to get there. I was amazed at how he tells of diving into the tequila business which eventually became $100 mil money maker and all his business ventures I wasn't aware of, some of which failed. I loved the tales of the Van Halen days and the tour he did with David Lee Roth plus all the great backstage stuff and stories about songs I've heard a million times from his entire career. It's all a really remarkable story of the American dream and a guy who went out and grabbed it by the sack.

He owns up to some faults, from infidelity to the failed business moves to failure on some parenting fronts and plenty of drugs and such, which all made it seem a bit more honest and open. But there's no way of knowing both sides of some of the stories without the other side chiming in, which never happens of course. There's nothing from Eddie or Alex or DLR anywhere here. It's all Sammy's side. Take some of it with a grain of salt perhaps? It all feels right and honest having following the stories for years, but still...

I also wish there was more on the formation and success of Chickenfoot and stories from the road with those great musicians and such, but he's squeezed that whole tale into just a few pages, which is a bit disappointing.

It's an easy and fun read, especially if for fans of the Red Rocker or Van Halen. It never gets incredibly in depth and some parts are written a bit too simple perhaps. I'd loved for it to have been another 100 pages with a bit more detail into some aspects. But it's still a solid rock doc that you can pretty much devour over a weekend.

7/10

Book Review: Pretty Little Dead Things

Pretty Little Dead Things
by Gary McMahon

Synopsis: Years ago, a car accident killed Thomas Usher's wife and daughter and left him with an unwanted gift: the ability to see the silent shades of the restless dead. Now a psychic detective, Usher takes a mundane job for night club owner Baz Singh, keeping an eye on Baz's daughter, Kareena, an assignment that ends when Usher finds Kareena's corpse. Usher soon learns that Kareena's death is just the latest in a series and that the murders, the kidnapping of a little girl, and even Usher's own past are all elements in the cheerfully malevolent Mr. Shiloh's vast occult plot.

I believe this is my first book to be considered "British horror" and I must say I was quite impressed. The characters are all very real and flawed, both living and dead, but especially the lead character who is a big mix of emotions from experiencing something between a gift and a curse while mourning his loss and the sense of guilt he feels because of it. The overall feel of the book is very dark and gloomy, which gives it a real sense of foreboding and suspense as it builds toward the finish. The finish itself is very dark and gruesome with a final explosion of creepy imagery.

It's all very inventive and intelligent as well. But the best thing about this book is the way in which McMahon writes. The story never seems to drag, he gives great descriptive imagery and the way he writes his prose is very enjoyable. Watch this guy horror fans.

8/10

Book Review: Child Bride

Child Bride: The Untold Story of Priscilla Beaulieu Presley
by Suzanne Finstad

Synopsis: With as many darkly intriguing details as the chambers of Graceland, Finstad - journalist, lawyer, and author of two true-crime books - defends her own theories on the complexity and grit of the former Mrs. Presley. Why did she conspire with her mother to keep her paternity a secret? How old was she when she took up with the King? Suzanne Finstad treats us to her own exhaustively researched version of the facts.

Last year when I read Pricilla's "Elvis and Me" I couldn't help but get the feeling that she'd sugar-coated the whole thing quite a bit and slanted it incredibly in her favor, since Elvis wasn't around to defend or deny anything in the book. In this book, the author goes in-depth exposing a whole lot of that book, plus gives a lot of great information about the lives of Elvis, Priscilla and Lisa Marie. She gets interviews from people all the way back through Priscilla's grade school and up to a lot of Memphis Mafia members and her lovers. It's all very interesting, especially for an Elvis fan like me.

Personally I thought maybe at times it was sort of a witch hunt or a hatchet job, like the author had something against Priscilla, but with the amazing amount of research that went into this it's hard to deny the flat out facts, and I think any notions of Priscilla are earned. No stone seems to have been left unturned. She definitely doesn't come out smelling like roses here as in her own book, but this certainly comes across as more accurate.

Finstad is presenting a story that contradicts an image, one created by Priscilla herself. Finstad simply uncovered the truth that was there all along, as evident by the way she goes back and points out many inconsistencies to Priscilla's stories and how the consistency of her behavior has been there all along.

I've read some comments from people saying take this all with a grain of salt, but the way the facts are presented I'm not sure why you would. This is a must read for fans of The King, and for anyone who has read "Elvis and Me" and was left feeling like they only knew part of the story. If you're fine with the whole myth of Elvis and Priscilla's love story, you might want to skip this and hold on to that image, because this will change that.

8/10

Book Review: The Confession

The Confession
by John Grisham

Synopsis: On the eve of the execution of Donté Drumm, an African-American high-school football star, for the 1998 murder of a white cheerleader whose body was never found, Travis Boyette, a creepy multiple sex offender, confesses that he's guilty of the crime to Kansas minister Keith Schroeder. With Drumm's legal options dwindling fast and with the threat of civil unrest in his Texas hometown if the execution proceeds, Schroeder battles to convince Boyette to go public with the truth--and to persuade the condemned man's attorney that Boyette's story needs to be taken seriously.

One of the things I like most about Grisham's writing is probably one of the things that most holds this book back. He's a very straight-forward storyteller. I love how he draws his characters and they're very realistic and behave so... but also that means there's never a lot of curve balls. In this book, there are none. It sets out on a course and just stays right on it. I love the story and find the subject of the death penalty to be very interesting, it's just he doesn't do a whole lot with it other than give the story of a wrongfully convicted death row inmate and the whirlwind surrounding his case and execution. He has very passionate views on the politics of the death penalty flaws in our justice system and he draws a fictional story slanted only in the 1 direction... his.

It is an interesting book though with a nice look into the legal system and the death penalty. It's very fast-paced and interesting and he's got some great characters in it. I've always thought he was a great storyteller, and this book is no different. But be prepared to be fed his political views as I felt it was a bit preachy at times. I also think he makes some racial issues strictly black and white, and never gray. The line between races in the book is just too pronounced for me to feel it's realistic.

On the death penalty aspect, he makes solid points and I found myself thinking about the West Memphis Three case here in Arkansas a lot throughout as there are many similarities. If you're interested in this sort of thing then this piece of fiction will please you I think. I'd also highly recommend his book The Innocent Man, which is nonfiction and on the same subject and I assume prompted him to write this novel.

8/10

Book Review: Every Demon Has His Day

Every Demon Has His Day
by Cara Lockwood

Synopsis: In her wildest dreams, Constance Plyd never thought she'd see dead people. Then again, she never thought she'd be hit on by her ex-husband at his own funeral...or be the prime suspect in his murder. Fortunately for Constance, irresistibly sexy sheriff Nathan Garrett wants to believe her explanation -- that a card-carrying demon in a black suit killed Jimmy in the garage -- or maybe he wants something more. Either way, all signs are leading to a showdown of hellish proportions, with Constance at the heart of the battle, when the Devil and would-be mother of the Antichrist (a pop princess wannabe) descends on Crockett County. Sure, she'd rather be cooking up a storm for the next state fair, but if she's going to be the Chosen One, at least Constance can give a few demons a Texas-style butt kicking....

A quirky, funny story that I found pretty entertaining. Most of the main characters are well drawn and the heroes are likable and easy to root for. The pop princess to me seemed like a direct Britney Spears knockoff and I couldn't picture the words she was saying without hearing Britney. Even the demons and the devil in the story were comical and entertaining during their exchanges. The story gets pretty outrageous but it all really is entertaining the way it's presented. Some colorful supporting characters keep things moving, like a gun-slinging priest, a ghost of the lead's dead husband and a lapdog in a pink sweater named Frank.

There's a love story involved as well, but it doesn't dominate the plot, more of a sidetrack really. It's really an offbeat story that works in a lot of action as well. It's sort of 1 part fantasy, 1 part religious and 1 part chick flick (or chick lit as it's called). Nothing that's overly memorable but not a bad book at all and a pretty amusing and lighthearted read that doesn't take itself too seriously at any point and provides some good laughs.

7.5/10