The Haunting of Las Lágrimas

 

The Haunting of Las Lágrimas

by W.M. Cleese

This book was simply amazing to read, and actually left me feeling unnerved by certain things that I read.  So let me start by saying if you like a good - nay great - slow burn ghost story, this you have to buy this book.

It is set in the pre-WW1 era of South America, where a young privileged english woman is taking work as a gardener.  She accepts a job on a remote estate in the middle of the Pampas, and that is where things start to go wrong.

The authors descriptions and story telling left me creeped out on more than one occasion, to the point where I begged my hubby "not to go into the woods" when he went camping the weekend I finished it.  His choice to not go into certain details of one of the attacks means that he will always have my respect, and I am sure you will understand when you read it for yourselves.

I can not beg you enough to go and buy this book.  The author is a lovely man, he is a great story teller, and if this book doesn't give you chills, then you are made from sterner stuff than I.

5 Stars!

Gothic

Gothic

by Philip Fracassi

Wow.  Just wow.  

I am not sure I like starting a review like this, but I can not think of a word that better expresses how much I enjoyed this book.

It did take me a couple of chapters to get into the writers writing style, but that is on me (and not him) but once I had, I found I could hardly put the book down.  His use of prose in amping up the atmosphere was amazing, it oozed a "creep" factor that was palpable as I read what was happening.

The glimpse back in time was perfect, good detailing and filled in the gaps to the artifacts history that we had before then.

But the direction the story eventually takes you is one I don't think anyone could guess.  Well, I sure as hell did not anyway.  Loved the ending, it was so different to have a book end like that, it was like a refreshing surprise.

You like horror?  Then this is a must for your bedside table, especially to read in the dead of the night.

5 Stars!

Mothered

 

Mothered

by Zoje Stage

Now, this is a book that plays on your deepest fears: the world as it is (or was a year ago.)

I think anyone who obeyed the rules of lockdown due to the pandemic will feel the claustrophobia that this book brings about, not to mention playing on your anxieties that most people have suffered with.  Add into that the fear that most adults have about living with their "parent(s)" again and you have the perfect recipe for disaster.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, to the pint where I could not put it down and finished it in a day.  While it may not be gory enough for some horror fans, I think the brilliant writing and subtle play on our emotions from the pandemic (and continuing pandemic) are enough to thrill almost everyone.

5 Stars!

The Nightmare Man

The Nightmare Man

by J. H. Markert

 Oh my goodness, this book was great! If you like a twisty turny horror, then this book could well be for you.

The writing was smooth, clever enough to keep you hooked, but not the type of author who likes to over use big and overly clever words.  The chapters are written from different points of view, and it does come across that way, in the way you can forget the same person is writing them.  The story was good, you did not know which way things were going to go, and who was going to be affected by what.

If you want to read a good horror book, then pick this up. I dont think you will be disappointed.

5 Stars!

A Man In Winter

 

A Man in Winter

by Katie Marie

While this was not my normal style of book, I am glad that I picked it up to read.  The authors writing style is smooth and almost relaxing at times, with no use of unnecessarily long and complicated words, and no flowery descriptions of everything.  And while you may not think it to be a conventional horror, there is something quite horrific for the main character who is sliding into his dementia, and is not sure what is real and what is not.

What I liked most was how I felt at the end of the book, left unsure of the actions of the main character, and not sure what was real and what was not.  A clever piece of storytelling on a subject that should scare us all.

5 Stars!