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Book Review: The Darkest Night: Chilling Stories from the Biggest Names in Horror edited by Lindy Ryan

cover art for The Darkest Night by Lindy Ryan

 

The Darkest Night: Chilling Stories from the Biggest Names in Horror edited by Lindy Ryan

Crooked Lane Books, 2024 (pre-order)

ISBN-13 9781639108718

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

Buy:  Bookshop.org  |  Amazon.com

 

It’s certainly a busy moment for those who ,like me, love to read (and review) horror anthologies.

 

I’m not sure why, but we, fans of  dark short stories, are enjoying ourselves because among a number of forgettable tales, there are always some which are worth the time we spend on them. not to mention the fact that there are continuously new authors to discover and to keep under observation.

 

The present anthology includes some great stories, in my opinion.

 

“Children Are Not the Only Ones Who Know Where the Presents Are Hidden “ (what a title!), penned by Josh Malerman, is a magnificent example of psychological horror, probing the secrets of a long-gone childhood haunted by unpleasant, ambiguous memories.

 

“The Body of Leonora James”, by Stephanie M Wytovich, is an outstanding tale of revenge, with a distinct supernatural taste.

 

Clay McLead Chapman contributes “Mr Butler”, a quite original, very disturbing piece revolving around a cardboard box endowed with unusual properties.

 

“Father’s Last Christmas”, by Lee Murray, is a gruesome black fable definitely not for the squeamish, while “ Bruiser”, by Jamie Flanagan, is an offbeat, excellent piece featuring a nurse getting involved with the crazy plans of an inmate.

 

Very good stuff, and obviously my favorites. Read the book and pick your own…

 

Reviewed by Mario Guslandi

Book Review: The Hunger by Alma Katsu

The Hunger by Alma Katsu

G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-0735212510

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook

 

The release of Alma Katsu’s new historical horror novel brings with it comparisons to The Terror by Dan Simmons, even including both of them in social media ads. Do not be fooled. Yes, both authors bring impeccable research to fine stories and put you right there in the moment with ease, and both examine the human condition and how people can easily be turned to embrace their shadow selves, the monsters within the person.

However, there are a couple of major differences. First, The Hunger will not take the entire summer to read. At nearly a thousand pages, The Terror, while amazing, could be used as a weapon to literally knock someone out. Katsu’s story trims the fat, leaving a lean but thoroughly detailed and realistic story that doesn’t skimp on the details of the western mountains or pioneer life. Instead, she focuses on the relationships and the rot that crisis can reveal.

Many readers will be at least partially familiar with the story of the unfortunate Donner Party, a caravan of travelers who attempted to traverse the Sierra Nevada mountains, but were ill-prepared for the journey.

In a story where the ending is already written and most of the facts are substantiated, Katsu keeps the reader’s attention with compelling characters, and takes her time in building the burn. She introduces the many characters and allows them to maneuver through the plot, growing and festering in readers’ minds as they turn the pages. Her weaving together of the players in this horrific chunk of history creates a bloody tapestry that will intrigue the reader.

The most vividly drawn characters are Charles Stanton, a bachelor with the dark secret; Tamsen Donner, wife of George, who strongly believes in the supernatural and witchcraft;  James Reed, another party leader with a dark path; and Tamsen’s youngest daughter, who can hear the dead speak to her. Toss in some other players, and the stew simmers to a rich boil that threatens to destroy the group even before the true tragedy hits.

Katsu inserts the supernatural, or at least the vibe of it, which elevates the novel from pure historical fiction to historical horror, but she keeps the story lean. Reading it, one can almost feel the desolation of the mountains and the desperation their journey. By the time the climax unfolds, Katsu delivers on the promise hinted at in the beginning– a bit of a twist,  but just enough to create wonder Recommended reading for any thriller or history fan.

 

Reviewed by David Simms

Editor’s note: The Hunger is a nominee for the 2018 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Novel.

 

Book Review: Ararat by Christopher Golden

Ararat by Christopher Golden

St. Martin’s Press, 2017

ISBN-13: 978-1250117052

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition. Audible, audio CD.

 

It has been several years since a novel truly unsettled this reviewer enough to produce repeated nightmares. Ararat, though, is a read that nestles under the skin.

In Ararat, a team of explorers, scientists, and scholars have discovered something embedded into the rock of Mount Ararat that may be Noah’s Ark. However, instead of animals two by two, they find a handful of human corpses… and one mummified being with horns. Something on the mountain is not quite dead, but is waiting until the time is right for it to show itself. The expedition’s members struggle to figure out the dark puzzle, as a blizzard threatens to make the mountain cave their tomb.

Golden’s characters breathe, live, and fear on every page. Adam and Meryam, who spearhead the Ararat expedition, drive the story, along with Ben Walker, sent from DARPA to assist in ascertaining the true nature of the find. Secondary characters become fully fleshed beings, with nearly everyone turning a bit part into something crucial.

Christopher Golden has penned some great tales in the past– most recently, the disturbing Dead Ringers– but Ararat just might be his best. In this novel, Golden takes advantage of tropes common to the thriller and horror genres, while stepping deftly around the typical pitfalls. Golden tears perceptions and twists the plot in unexpected directions throughout.  Is it a thriller with horror, or horror in a thriller format?  Doesn’t matter– labels will soon be forgotten once the pages whiz by.

Ararat calls to mind classics like The Thing, The Exorcist, and The Omen,  but it stands on its own. Golden’s knack for intertwining sympathetic characters and the horrific with suspense ensures that this unsettling story will be read in just a few sittings. This is a story that begs for a blockbuster-style movie, but it’s one that this reviewer won’t be viewing. The nightmares aren’t worth it. Readers of thrillers and horror will be talking about this one for year.

Reviewed by Dave Simms