Coffin Shadows by Mark Steensland & Glen Krisch

Rating: ★★★★

Genre: Occult Horror

Format: Paperback

Pages: 117

Synopsis:

12 years ago Janet Martlee’s infant son died under mysterious circumstances. Consumed with grief and anger, she ran away to start again...

Yesterday, a 12-year-old boy with dead eyes appeared in her classroom, begging for help. But Janet doesn’t believe in ghosts...

Today, her psychiatrist tells her she must return home to confront her past and uncover the mystery of what happened...

Only some questions don’t want to be answered. And some answers hide in the shadows...

Review:

"The treasure you seek is in the cave you fear to enter."

When Janet Martlee begins to see what she believes is a ghost, her whole world turns upside down and leads her in a direction she has avoided facing. She must return back to the home she ran from many years before to try to restore her memories from the past. What she learns is secrets and lies have led her to believe what was never true. She learns the truth behind her infant son's death, and the truth of dark practices that have been performed for many years by some of the townspeople. 

A collaborative novella focusing on the main characters' circumstances of her past life and decisions that she has to choose to make to be able to move forward in her present life.  A short journey through a life of unknowns and lost memories, unlocking the mind as all the elements come together, revealing dark and disturbing truths. 

I can imagine the thought it takes for two minds to blend a story together. Working together to complete a cohesive story and one that has to engage the reader in a few short pages. One of my favorite elements of a novella is how it leaves some interpretation for the reader to take away from the story itself. Not everything needs an explanation or a packaged ending. That's what sparks imagination and keeps us wondering. 

A mystery to uncover with some chilling and horrifying secrets.

~Mark Steensland

Goodreads Author Link:

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Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-Steensland/author/

Author Website:

https://www.marksteensland.com/

About the author

Mark Steensland self-published his first book while in fourth grade and has been telling stories ever since—some of them true. He became a professional journalist before graduating high school, writing about movies for such magazines as Prevue, Millimeter, and American Cinematographer. He holds a bachelor's in film studies from UC Santa Barbara, a master's in creative writing from CSU Sacramento, and an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman University. His award-winning films (including Peekers and The Ugly File) have played in festivals around the world. His first novel—Behind the Bookcase—was published in 2012 by Random House. A movie based on The Special, a novella co-written with James Newman, was released in October 2020. He most recently wrote Jakob's Wife, starring Barbara Crampton, Larry Fessenden, and Bonnie Aarons.

~Glen Krisch

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Glen-Krisch/author/

About the author

A native of the Chicago suburbs, Glen Krisch hopes to add to his list of ghosts he's witnessed (two), as well as develop his rather pedestrian telekinetic and precognitive skills. His novels include Amazon Bestseller WHERE DARKNESS DWELLS, THE NIGHTMARE WITHIN, NOTHING LASTING, ARKADIUM RISING, ECHOES OF VIOLENCE, and LITTLE WHISPERS.

Publisher Link:

https://www.cemeterydance.com/

Cemetery Dance Publications

Founded by Richard Chizmar in 1988, Cemetery Dance Publications is a specialty press and small press publisher of horror and dark suspense. We've published Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Ray Bradbury, Peter Straub, William Peter Blatty, Clive Barker, Gillian Flynn, Scott Smith, Daphne du Maurier, Justin Cronin, Frank Darabont, Mick Garris, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, Max Brooks, Joe R. Lansdale, Norman Partridge, Richard Laymon, Michael Slade, Graham Masterton, Douglas Clegg, Jack Ketchum, William F. Nolan, Nancy A. Collins, Al Sarrantonio, John Skipp, Michael Koryta, and many other horror writers, both classic and contemporary.

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Hellweg's Keep by Justin Holley

Rating: ★★★☆

Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror

Format: e-ARC

Pages: 283

Synopsis: 

Thirty-seven miners disappear without a trace within a Titanium mine, Hellweg’s Keep, deep within Zeta One, a moon orbiting the planet, Terra. When FBI agent Kendra Omen arrives via the spaceship Marietta, strange phenomenon begins to manifest…suicides, shadows a shade darker than the shadows they move within, disembodied whispers, and Kendra would swear she catches a glimpse of her own deceased daughter walking the dimly lit halls of Hellweg enterprises. But that’s impossible. Isn’t it? As evidence of occult practices at the mine emerges, Kendra realizes the answers they seek, and hopefully the thirty-seven miners, will only be found underground in the claustrophobic labyrinth of shafts and natural caverns within Hellweg’s Keep.

Review:

"It rippled with power, like something beneath it disturbed the event horizon."

When FBI agent Kendra is hired to fly into space to investigate the disappearance of miners at Hellweg's Keep, she is on a mission to find out what happened to them and hopefully rescue them. What she finds is many unanswered questions, strange occurrences, and disturbing occult practices that affected many lives. As the crew she has helping her descends into the deep caverns, they must not only search for the missing, they must also protect themselves from what lurks beneath. Haunting whispers, apparitions, and creatures from beyond that will devour their existence. 

Hellweg's Keep is science fiction with a mix of horror and paranormal elements. Deep in the caverns the claustrophobia can be clearly felt as the darkness surrounds and the tunnels narrow, all the while knowing that something monstrous is lurking within. Whispers and orbs floating in the abyss, trying to tempt the mind into dark places. 

This is my first endeavor into the writing of Justin Holley. I do not know quite yet what his writing style is like. With that being said, I did feel that this wasn't as cohesive as it could have been. I felt there were a bit of repetitive statements from or about the characters, an overuse of similes, and an ending that left me a little underwhelmed. 

I also feel that the majority of books have redemptive qualities and there was quite a bit to like about this one. As with all books, they need the right audience and I feel that this can be enjoyed by those that are into sci-fi/horror.

A very kind thank you to Flame Tree Publishing and Justin Holley for sending me a complimentary copy. Much appreciated!

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Justin-Holley/

Author Website:

https://justinholley-author.com/

                                  About the author

Justin lives somewhere on the Cass Lake chain of lakes with his wife, and also a rather large Daneiff named Nu and a clever but tiny Devon Rex named Jinx. Justin is the author of the novels, Hellweg's Keep, Blood from the Stars (3-book serialized novel), Tethered to Darkness, Seven Cleopatra Hill, the 3-book Bruised series, and several short stories. Bruised was mentioned in Brian Keene's "Top Ten Books of 2015". Correspondence from his fans is most welcome.

Publisher Website:

https://www.flametreepublishing.com/

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Research Randy and The Mystery of Grandma's Half-Eaten Pie of Despair by Tom Lucas

Rating: ★★★★

Genre: Occult Fiction

Format: Paperback

Pages: 172

Synopsis: 

Research Randy reads like YA, and can be if you want it to be. It’s also a weird mash-up of cosmic horror, eldritch terrors, nostalgia trip and a meta love letter to Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos.

The stars of a beloved series of children’s books, the clever Research Randy and his supernaturally sensitive sister Charlie, solved many cases in the idyllic coastal town of Serenity Bay to the delight of many readers over the last 30 years.

But now, suddenly transported to the creepy hamlet of Effingmouth, they find themselves in a bizarre place where nothing is what it seems, people are strange and secretive, and something awful lurks in the shadows.
This might be a mystery they don’t want to solve.

Review:

"When you look in the mirror...

Whom do you see? Not WHAT, mind you. WHOM. This visage before you, that which you consider to be your identity, what is its value to you? Are you content?"

"For all of humankind is but a trifle. An experiment only meant to amuse those far beyond our comprehension, those whose visage goes beyond our very ability to perceive."

Randy and Charlie have recently moved to Effingmouth, where everything is strange and unusual. Randy and Charlie are not only trying to fit in, they are finding many mysteries to solve. As each mystery unfolds before them, they become more bizarre and dangerous to their existence. There is something sinister lurking in the dark, waiting patiently to reveal itself. He has awoken and "HE SLEEPS NO MORE!"

The author's writing style brought to mind the way Daniel Handler writes as Lemony Snicket, immersing himself into the story, interacting with the characters. Very creative and adventurous. Mysteries and mayhem truly abound throughout as the kids work to unveil the truths of the strange happenings that surround the town. The adventure evolves as the author has you turning pages to read how Randy solved each mystery or not, immersing the reader into those, as well. There are really great illustrations that add to the overall uniqueness. A really fun nod to Lovecraft and the Cthulhu mythos. 

When I first started reading this, I felt it would be a great book for middle grade kids, but further into it I changed my mindset and really feel it does fit more to the young adult and adult audience. Fans of Lovecraft and mystery will surely appreciate and enjoy reading this. 

A truly rollicking adventure!

Thank you Mar at TBM Horror and Tom Lucas for sending this one my way, appreciated!

Goodreads Author Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

Amazon Author Link:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tom-Lucas/author/

Author Website:

https://room1331.home.blog/

About the author

Tom Lucas was born and raised in Detroit, and although currently enjoying the lack of snow and ice in Florida, remains a son of the post-industrial apocalypse.

He is a college professor, author, and spoken word performer.

Tom has been published in The Orlando Weekly, Writer's Digest, The Writer's Monthly Review, The South End, The Oakland Press, The Macomb Daily, Orbit, Anthropomorphic, and U. Magazine. He has also been featured in literary journals such as The Write Place at the Write Time, Graffiti Rag, F*cked Up Fairy Tales, and Dark Fire Fiction. He has performed on the Lollapalooza stage as well as guest spots on CIMX, WDET, and WJR.

When not writing, Tom likes to drive fast and take chances.

For more information visit: http://room1331.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TomLucasAuthor

Insta: @TomLucasAuthor

Twitter: @readtomlucas

Slasher: Tommygunn (TomLucasAuthor)

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