The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

This English author's historical novel is my best horror read of this year and of the past few years. Destined to become a classic, the story revolves around an English manor house which has seen better days. The family who own it has as well and find comfort in the good care and interest of a young doctor (the son of a former servant) who has returned to the area. There are scenes that cause genuine fright, interspersed with longer descriptions of 'normal' life that lull you into a false sense of security.

And just when you think you have this one figured out, the turns begin until the last page. You will want to pick this one up again just to find the pieces of the puzzle you missed the first time.

The Red Tree by Caitlin Kiernan

A haunting, poetic piece of work that is meant to provoke, frighten, and disturb, The Red Tree deserves much more attention than it will probably get. The cover (which the author didn't like) appears to make it easy to categorize--paranormal romance.

Instead, the work is a highly poetic description of a descent into madness provoked, in part, by her narrator's sudden move from Atlanta to an old farmhouse in Rhode Island. But that's just my interpretation. It could be that the autho...more A haunting, poetic piece of work that is meant to provoke, frighten, and disturb, The Red Tree deserves much more attention than it will probably get. The cover (which the author didn't like) appears to make it easy to categorize--paranormal romance.

Instead, the work is a highly poetic description of a descent into madness provoked, in part, by her narrator's sudden move from Atlanta to an old farmhouse in Rhode Island. But that's just my interpretation. It could be that the author meant for us to be horrified by something that was actually there--not just imagined by the narrator.

Kiernan borrows much from American and English folklore, legend, and horror literature, quoting everything from snippets of Poe's poetry to refrains from the "Alice" books.

This hallucinatory book is a great counter measure to Stephen King's more definite evils, sometimes less terrifying because they are so real.

Ms. Kiernan leaves room for the reader to imagine the horrors around her words.

The Haunter of the Dark: and Other Grotesque Visions by John Coulhart, including pieces by Lovecraft

If you've read any Lovecraft, check out this graphic novel. A pantheon of Lovecraftian gods and an illustrated story. Will scare the living s**t out of you. Which is appropriate for Halloween week. While you're at it, take a peek at one of Lovecraft's "tales." This book scared me so much I had to stop mid-story.

The Haunter of the Dark on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Haunter-Dark-Other-Grotesque-Visions/dp/1902197232/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256605812&sr=1-1

H.P. Lovecraft Tales on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=1931082723&x=11&y=16

Dracula by Bram Stoker

If you have never taken the time to read this classic, do. You will have a hard time finding anything more frightening than the first 80 pages, when Johnathan Harker slowly finds his way to Dracula's castle and finally sees his host unmasked. Oh, and the brides are creepier than they have ever appeared in any movie.

goodreads.com

goodreads.com widget appears to the right.

goodreads.com

Visit me on goodreads.com

The Silent Man

The Silent Man by Alex Berenson

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars From goodreads....
If you have not yet read one of Alex Berenson's John Wells spy novels, run to your library or a bookstore and grab one. The first one--The Faithful Spy--is impossible to put down; the second one--The Ghost War--will suck you in because each character has a complicated, but quickly conveyed backstory; and this, the third one, has the quickest pace yet, beginning with a bang and ending with a whimper, as our singularly determined character is finally derailed by his strengths. (Yet the ending is also a teaser for the beginning of the next.) The Silent Man includes a chilling description of the building of a homemade thermonuclear bomb. Snatch one up before he finishes the next one; I can't wait to read Wells's next adventure. I hope you grow to love Berenson's insight into current events and his singular creation, Wells, part cowboy, part actor, full-time lover, and full-time American, as much as I do.


View all my reviews.