S.E. Howard ( of Worst Laid Plans)

S.E. Howard rated a book really liked it Nothing is Real by Kevin J. Kennedy (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
"Nothing Is Real" by Kevin J. Kennedy is more of a thought experiment than a traditional story. Anyone looking for the standard plot formulas will be disappointed, because at first, this narrative, told in epistolary form through non-linear diary ent ...more
Aug 27, 2025 11:24AM · 1 like · like · see review
S.E. Howard rated a book really liked it A Twist of the Lens by Elizabeth Devecchi	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Elizabeth Devecchi's upcoming thriller "A Twist of the Lens" is told in first-person POV through the main character, Charlie, who sets off on a cross-country motorcycle trip to visit family in scenic Colorado. Charlie's older brother and his wife are ...more
Aug 20, 2025 01:13PM · like · see review
S.E. Howard rated a book liked it The Deeping: A Folk Horror Novella by Antoinette McCormick	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
In "The Deeping" by Antoinette McCormick, sisters Mallory and Brynn have inherited a derelict lighthouse on a remote and uninhabited island. Brynn is the wild child, always off in search of new adventures. Mallory is the more pragmatic of the two, an ...more
Jul 09, 2025 05:45PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Deeping by Antoinette McCormick. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Deeping by Antoinette McCormick <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
S.E. Howard rated a book really liked it The Inheritance of Giuliana by Alessandra Benini (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Inheritance of Giuliana by Alessandra Benini is a story about grief, and how over time, it wears us down, weathering and overwhelming us, much as weeds overtake an untended garden, or disrepair eventually crumbles even the most impressive of mans ...more
Jul 03, 2025 07:36AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Inheritance of Giuliana by Alessandra Benini. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Inheritance of Giuliana by Alessandra Benini <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
S.E. Howard rated a book liked it Let the Ghosts Sleep by Keller Agre (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
True-crime podcaster Henry Hall makes his living off the dead. Not a great living, but thanks to a local serial killer known as the Marie College Maimer, he's been able to build up a sizable following and some lucrative sponsors, so he's well on his ...more
Jun 27, 2025 08:44AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Let the Ghosts Sleep by Keller Agre. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Let the Ghosts Sleep by Keller Agre <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
S.E. Howard rated a book it was amazing The Rotting Room by Viggy Parr Hampton (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
There's nothing more terrifying than being raised Catholic. This much is obvious right from the start in "The Rotting Room" by Viggy Parr Hampton, a cautionary tale about the young, beautiful, but troubled Sister Rafaela, who arrives in the book's op ...more
Jun 26, 2025 11:54AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Rotting Room by Viggy Parr Hampton. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Rotting Room by Viggy Parr Hampton <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
S.E. Howard rated a book liked it Homecoming: A Horror Novella by Micah Castle (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The concept for "Homecoming" by Micah Castle is a good one: a young man returns to the town in which he grew up to attend a friend's funeral, and rediscovers dark moments from his past. Castle's writing is well-paced, and there are creepy scenes invo ...more
Jun 21, 2025 02:12AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Homecoming by Micah Castle. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Homecoming by Micah Castle <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
S.E. Howard rated a book it was amazing The World Turns Red by Tim Waggoner (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
"The World Turns Red" by Tim Waggoner is a quick read, both because of its diminutive length (83 pages) and because Waggoner's writing grabs you by the throat in a narrative chokehold from the opening line, and doesn't let up. It's a simple premise: ...more
Jun 11, 2025 02:36PM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The World Turns Red by Tim Waggoner. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The World Turns Red by Tim Waggoner <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
S.E. Howard rated a book really liked it Devil Dancers by Bo Chappell (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
When an enigmatic stranger rides into a small, quiet town in the American Old West, trouble follows hot on his heels. Add in a crooked sheriff, his good-natured deputy, a couple of town drunks, and a hot-headed local beauty, and you've got the making ...more
Jun 10, 2025 09:11AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Devil Dancers by Bo Chappell. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Devil Dancers by Bo Chappell <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
S.E. Howard rated a book it was amazing Veil by Jeff Clulow (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I love gothic horror, with its beleaguered heroines facing sinister and oppressive forces, brooding atmospheres and gloomy, often decrepit settings. These settings, in fact, are often characters in and of themselves, filled with cobwebs, shadows, and ...more
Jun 07, 2025 07:12PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Veil by Jeff Clulow. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Veil by Jeff Clulow <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

S.E. Howard rated a book really liked it

Nothing is Real
by Kevin J. Kennedy (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

"Nothing Is Real" by Kevin J. Kennedy is more of a thought experiment than a traditional story. Anyone looking for the standard plot formulas will be disappointed, because at first, this narrative, told in epistolary form through non-linear diary ent "Nothing Is Real" by Kevin J. Kennedy is more of a thought experiment than a traditional story. Anyone looking for the standard plot formulas will be disappointed, because at first, this narrative, told in epistolary form through non-linear diary entries and random philosophical quotes, seems to follow little rhyme or reason. There's no climactic epiphany here, no conflict to speak of, and while elements of dread are sprinkled throughout, there are no monsters or villains or even heroes in the end.

What there is, however, is a quiet, introspective exploration of what it means to be human, and how inconsequential so many of the things we value or aspire toward really are. In the story, Kennedy finds himself the unwitting recipient of mysterious journals that have been mailed to him from an anonymous source. Undated and out of order, these describe the experiences of an unidentified narrator with an unknown but seemingly omnipotent entity. These encounters, the narrator writes, begin shortly after he tries a novel hallucinogenic drug with some friends. The experience, he describes, is like discovering a glitch in the matrix, as while under the drug's effects, time seems to come to a complete standstill all around, leaving the narrator as the sole person still able to move freely or interact. Once the drug wears off, these experiences subside, but new ones soon occur to replace them: primarily, the narrator becomes aware of a "shadow person," a ghostly figure in the periphery of his vision who gradually comes closer and closer, until at last, it begins interacting with him.

From there, the narrator says, it begins to show him other plains of dimensions, worlds that are both like and unlike our own, strange, bizarre, and wonderful. One such encounter leaves the narrator stranded in a room with no windows or doors, filled with diaries and clocks with no working hands to lend any perspective of time. The shadow entity that delivered him there disappears, abandoning him, but rather than be afraid upon the realization of his predicament, the narrator feels a strange sense of resignation and calm.

There are parallels throughout these encounters with the shadow figure and real life. Through the journal author, Kennedy posits about these, offering philosophical commentary about how helpless we are to manifest or affect our own fates, despite our best efforts to the contrary. While it would be easy to find a pessimistic takeaway from this observation, Kennedy also suggests a sort of liberation that stems from this very realization, a freedom to enjoy the gift that is life without feeling encumbered by the constant pressures of what's considered "necessary" or "important." Rather than nothing literally being real, Kennedy instead challenges us to find the things that truly are, at least to us. And in the end, isn't that the best anyone could hope for?

"Nothing Is Real" is available September 16, 2025. ...more

S.E. Howard rated a book really liked it

A Twist of the Lens
by Elizabeth Devecchi

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Elizabeth Devecchi's upcoming thriller "A Twist of the Lens" is told in first-person POV through the main character, Charlie, who sets off on a cross-country motorcycle trip to visit family in scenic Colorado. Charlie's older brother and his wife are ...more

S.E. Howard rated a book liked it

The Deeping: A Folk Horror Novella
by Antoinette McCormick

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

In "The Deeping" by Antoinette McCormick, sisters Mallory and Brynn have inherited a derelict lighthouse on a remote and uninhabited island. Brynn is the wild child, always off in search of new adventures. Mallory is the more pragmatic of the two, an In "The Deeping" by Antoinette McCormick, sisters Mallory and Brynn have inherited a derelict lighthouse on a remote and uninhabited island. Brynn is the wild child, always off in search of new adventures. Mallory is the more pragmatic of the two, and when she learns that Brynn plans to convert the lighthouse into a paranormal tourist attraction, she immediately disapproves. She also immediately heads for the lighthouse to try and talk some sense into her reckless sibling, and it's here that our story begins.

Along the way by ferry to the desolate Sorrow Island, Mallory is warned that the lighthouse is "no place for a woman." She finds this admonition more patronizing than anything, and her irritation only intensifies upon her arrival, when she discovers Brynn has invited a group of YouTube ghost hunters to stay and film on the island, hoping to drum up public interest in her haunted B-n-B plan. Mallory bickers with both Brynn and the YouTubers, then things start getting weird, and she realizes maybe Brynn's not so wrong to think something supernatural inhabits the island.

There's a lot I enjoyed about this story. McCormick is a good writer, and the supernatural elements -- in particular, the creatures at the heart of this creature-feature -- are weird and terrifying, harkening back to the classic cosmic horrors envisioned by Lovecraft. There are cultish elements at play, too, along with a good old-fashioned ghost story, and all these, set against the backdrop of a storm-tossed sea, a gale-ravaged island, and a creepy lighthouse, make for a chilling, atmospheric tale.

That being said, I wish the characters had been as well developed. The relationship between Mallory and Brynn is touched on, but not explored in any depth, and although we see that there's conflict between them, we never really understand why. Similarly, the YouTubers Brynn invites to the island are referred to collectively as "the trio," which makes sense because none of them feel developed as individuals. That would be fine if they were just passing through, but they occupy a pretty good stretch in the story, and we learn little to nothing about them. This was especially confusing because when Mallory first realizes they're on the island, she greets them with such open hostility, I really expected there to be some backstory between them to explain her reaction, but it never developed.

In the end, like the lighthouse at its center, I feel like "The Deeping" has good bones, and a phenomenal cover to boot. I enjoyed the story, but would have liked to see the characters and ideas fleshed out a little more, even if that added to the overall page count ...more

S.E. Howard rated a book really liked it

The Inheritance of Giuliana
by Alessandra Benini (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Inheritance of Giuliana by Alessandra Benini is a story about grief, and how over time, it wears us down, weathering and overwhelming us, much as weeds overtake an untended garden, or disrepair eventually crumbles even the most impressive of mans The Inheritance of Giuliana by Alessandra Benini is a story about grief, and how over time, it wears us down, weathering and overwhelming us, much as weeds overtake an untended garden, or disrepair eventually crumbles even the most impressive of mansions. The story's main character, the titular Giuliana, or Julie as she prefers, is already in the full throes of heartache and grief from the opening chapter, still mourning a breakup months earlier with a man with whom she'd thought she was in love. When she learns of the death of her maternal grandmother, who lived in Italy, she suffers a different kind of sorrow, one that comes from the realization that she'd never known the woman, that she hadn't seen her "Nonna Concetta" since she'd been very young, and now would never get the chance to again. Concetta lived alone in a crumbling old villa, and Julie's memories of childhood visits are distant and vague. When she learns Concetta left the villa, along with the rest of her estate, to her, Julie travels overseas to try and reconnect with her past. She finds a lot more than she bargains for, including the truth about her grandmother's own overwhelming grief and the desperate -- even maddening -- lengths to which it had driven her. The stain of Concetta's sorrow -- and the darkness it summoned -- remains like a blight across not just the villa itself, but Julie, as well, and in the course of the story, she realizes she will have to conquer not only her own demons, but her grandmother's as well if she hopes to survive.

This was a fun gothic horror story, with plenty of mysterious things going bump in the night, hidden rooms, and long-buried family secrets to make for a tense, quick, and enjoyable read. Benini paints a beautiful portrait of both the pastoral Italian countryside and the people who live there. The last quarter of the book shifts from the classic gothic formula to something else (no spoilers from me), and while it's not the ending I was expecting, it was still well done, even providing a wicked little twist just when you think the worst is behind Julie and her friends.

Speaking of friends, Julie's BFF Georgina was my favorite character in the book. She's the kind of bestie we all need: one who will drop everything on a dime, cash in her airline points, and catch the next red-eye to Rome to have your back when you discover you've inadvertently inherited a haunted Italian villa. Georgina's got a snappy one-liner, bottle of wine, or supportive hug always at the ready, and I absolutely adored her.

The Inheritance of Giuliana is available now. It's haunting, harrowing, and full of surprises. ...more

S.E. Howard rated a book liked it

Let the Ghosts Sleep
by Keller Agre (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

True-crime podcaster Henry Hall makes his living off the dead. Not a great living, but thanks to a local serial killer known as the Marie College Maimer, he's been able to build up a sizable following and some lucrative sponsors, so he's well on his True-crime podcaster Henry Hall makes his living off the dead. Not a great living, but thanks to a local serial killer known as the Marie College Maimer, he's been able to build up a sizable following and some lucrative sponsors, so he's well on his way to fulfilling a lifelong ambition to become rich and successful. The descendent of a one-time newspaper magnate, Henry has always felt cheated out of the life of wealth and privilege he feels he deserves; his predecessor's fortune, along with his media empire, had been squandered and lost long before he was born. And while that fortune had been built on newspaper stories covering a ruthless serial killer in the early 1900s, Henry's managed to stake his own financial claim of success on the Marie College Maimer's infamy.

Of course, in Henry's opinion, it's his own charming on-air personality that's the secret to his success. And when he gets the chance to visit the Crane Island Club Resort in Georgia, where both the turn-of-the-century killings took place, and his great-great-great-grandfather's newspaper business took off, he seizes it, knowing his listeners will eat it up.

Accompanying Henry on this fateful journey is his beleaguered production assistant Kurt. Together they uncover secrets at the Resort that hint at the killer's true identity, and the terrible toll the murders took on the victims and their families so long ago. Everyone has skeletons in their closet, but the Crane Island Resort has ghosts -- and they've been waiting for Henry and Kurt.

This is Ager's debut novella, available now from Undertaker Books. It's well-written and enjoyable, but I feel like the story plays it safe for the most part. Given the subject matter, it could have taken some darker turns that would have ratcheted the tension, given the story some sharper teeth. Still, this was a quick read, an entertaining haunted-house mystery, and the layout of the story, with its interspersed snippets from Henry's podcast, "The Cadaver Hour," as well as stylized clips from menus and brochures for the resort, is clever and fun. Overall, I enjoyed it. Ager has the writing chops to make him worth watching to see what he comes up with next. ...more

S.E. Howard rated a book it was amazing

The Rotting Room
by Viggy Parr Hampton (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

There's nothing more terrifying than being raised Catholic. This much is obvious right from the start in "The Rotting Room" by Viggy Parr Hampton, a cautionary tale about the young, beautiful, but troubled Sister Rafaela, who arrives in the book's op There's nothing more terrifying than being raised Catholic. This much is obvious right from the start in "The Rotting Room" by Viggy Parr Hampton, a cautionary tale about the young, beautiful, but troubled Sister Rafaela, who arrives in the book's opening at her newly appointed home, the abbey of the Sisters of Divine Innocence. Leaving behind another order that closed abruptly in the wake of scandal, Rafaela is in the midst of crises of both personality and faith, matters that are only complicated by the fact that one of the first things she's introduced to at the Sisters of Divine Innocence is a secret room that contains the rotting corpse of a long-dead fellow nun.

This, Rafaela learns, is the chamber of "Divine Decomposition," or the titular rotting room if you prefer, and it's an ages-old tradition among her new order: when one of the sisters die, they're interred inside this chamber on a stone chair with a hole in the seat. As her body rots, the fluids from her putrefaction drip down through this hole and into a bucket beneath. The nuns collect this "holy essence," and although at first, Rafaela isn't told what they do with it, she soon begins to suspect they sell it to pilgrims as a money-making venture.

Rafaela's suspicions and doubts about her new convent only deepen with the unexpected arrival of a weary traveler, a red-haired nun from England who introduces herself as Sister Berta, and who is given sanctuary for the night at the Abbey. Berta is sick from the start, and not very friendly, either, and poor Rafaela draws the short stick and has to take care of her. Berta isn't long for this world, as it turns out, but before she dies, she imparts some terrible words of wisdom to the impressionable Rafaela--words that convince her Berta isn't a fellow Bride of Christ at all, but something much more sinister and foul. When Berta's dead body is placed in the chamber of divine decomposition but doesn't decompose, the other sisters take this as a sign of Berta's sainthood. Rafaela takes it as proof of her worst fears. The stronger both of these beliefs become, the more strained the relationship between Rafaela and her new sisterhood grows.

Hampton's writing is exquisite and immersive. "The Rotting Room" hits the ground running from the very first page, and the build up of tension and terror is palpable as the reader helplessly shares in Rafaela's every shocking discovery, each grim and gruesome truth she uncovers. In "The Rotting Room," Hampton explores what it means to be truly evil, as well as truly innocent, and the very fine line that all too often separates these dual aspects of human nature. It's gruesome, chilling, and an absolute masterclass in horror storytelling. Highly recommended! ...more

S.E. Howard rated a book liked it

Homecoming: A Horror Novella
by Micah Castle (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The concept for "Homecoming" by Micah Castle is a good one: a young man returns to the town in which he grew up to attend a friend's funeral, and rediscovers dark moments from his past. Castle's writing is well-paced, and there are creepy scenes invo ...more

S.E. Howard rated a book it was amazing

The World Turns Red
by Tim Waggoner (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

"The World Turns Red" by Tim Waggoner is a quick read, both because of its diminutive length (83 pages) and because Waggoner's writing grabs you by the throat in a narrative chokehold from the opening line, and doesn't let up. It's a simple premise: "The World Turns Red" by Tim Waggoner is a quick read, both because of its diminutive length (83 pages) and because Waggoner's writing grabs you by the throat in a narrative chokehold from the opening line, and doesn't let up. It's a simple premise: a sociology instructor, Lewis, is grading student essays from his home office in a state of disaffected boredom, when he looks out the window and witnesses his neighbor and young grandson affixing a hangman's noose from a bough in a tree. Lewis's initial puzzlement turns into horror as the neighbor then lovingly drapes the noose around the child's neck.

When Lewis rushes outside to warn them of a danger that should have been more than obvious, the child looks in his direction, gives a hearty wave and an eerie smile, then leaps from the ladder on which he's been perched, committing suicide before Lewis's aghast eyes. When his nonplussed neighbor then nonchalantly walks into the street, and directly into the path of a speeding oncoming pickup truck, followed soon after by the driver of the truck shooting herself in the head, Lewis quickly realizes this is no ordinary October afternoon. Everyone in the small, quiet town where he lives seems to be committing suicide, as further evidenced by the fact when he turns on the local news, he sees a reporter self-immolating on camera. For Lewis, the horror hits especially close to home; as a young child, he discovered his father shortly after he'd committed suicide with a shotgun blast to the head, and the memory of the gruesome sight -- as well as grisly hallucinations of his father's corpse, taunting him from beyond the grave that have lasted well into adulthood -- has left Lewis traumatized and emotionally scarred.

Although similar in premise to the M. Night Shyalaman 2008 movie "The Happening," the outbreak of suicidal tendencies in "The World Turns Red" hasn't affected the entire world just yet, and as Lewis rushes across town in the hopes he can rescue his mother, he eventually learns why. The reason, as well as the outcome of the story, are best left to be discovered on your own. No spoilers from me, but suffice it to say, the answer, my friend, isn't blowing in the wind.

This was such a fantastic story. The ending caught me completely off-guard, and I want to say more, but I'm not going to ruin it. Waggoner's writing is amazing, and the imagery in the story is truly chilling. "The World Turns Red" is a dark, disturbing, masterpiece worth binge-reading in one sitting. ...more

S.E. Howard rated a book really liked it

Devil Dancers
by Bo Chappell (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

When an enigmatic stranger rides into a small, quiet town in the American Old West, trouble follows hot on his heels. Add in a crooked sheriff, his good-natured deputy, a couple of town drunks, and a hot-headed local beauty, and you've got the making When an enigmatic stranger rides into a small, quiet town in the American Old West, trouble follows hot on his heels. Add in a crooked sheriff, his good-natured deputy, a couple of town drunks, and a hot-headed local beauty, and you've got the makings of a tale as old as time, one told hundreds, if not thousands of times in the pages of countless pulpy cowboy novels.

However, in "Devil Dancers," authors Bo Chappell and Adrian Medina (writing as A.A. Medina) take those familiar plot devices and turn them on their ears. What starts out as a conventional set-up quickly evolves into fast-paced showdown between good and evil, as a dark force is unwittingly set upon the otherwise idyllic town of Guidance.

When Hector, an erstwhile outlaw, rides into town, he's greeted with suspicion and derision, both because he's Mexican, and because he's an unfamiliar face. He's got enough gold to throw around to make himself at least somewhat welcome, at least until a posse of his former compadres -- fellow outlaws on the lam -- come looking for him. They stir up enough trouble to make Hector beat a hasty retreat, aided by a friendly local and his daughter, Julie Ann. When both the criminal gang and Guidance's smarmy sheriff, Appleton, and his young deputy Jack track Hector down, things go sideways fast. Turns out Hector and his partners in crime aren't the worst trouble headed Guidance's way, and before the night's over, the town is overrun with carnivorous children, killer bees (literally), a murder of murderous crows, and plenty of other strange, grotesque, and downright terrifying phenomena.

As one by one, the colorful cast of characters is whittled down, it's up to Hector, Julie Ann, and Jack to try and not only make sense of the darkness that's taken over the town, but find a way to stop it before it spreads. To do this, Jack will have to embrace his long-forgotten roots as an Apache, Hector will have to make peace with his tumultuous past, and Julie Ann will have to realize she doesn't need a man to save her.

"Devil Dancers" takes a while to find its stride, but as it progresses, it's a lot of fun to read. Some of the imagery is truly terrifying, and while I wish there had been more explanation as to the origin and source of the evil infecting the good folks of Guidance, the climactic battle pitting our heroes against the "big boss" is exciting and satisfying.

For the most part, "Devil Dancers" doesn't take itself too seriously, and you can tell Chappell and Medina had fun with the prose. There are passages that read as lyrically as any in a Louis L'Amour tale, while others fly with the kind of sardonic, if not vulgar wit you find in a Tarantino movie. In fact, the vibe I got while reading struck me very much as being Tarantino-esque, or Robert Rodriguez-like: violent, witty, gritty, and dark. "Devil Dancers" is pulp fiction at its best, and it makes for a fun time reading. ...more

S.E. Howard rated a book it was amazing

Veil
by Jeff Clulow (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

I love gothic horror, with its beleaguered heroines facing sinister and oppressive forces, brooding atmospheres and gloomy, often decrepit settings. These settings, in fact, are often characters in and of themselves, filled with cobwebs, shadows, and I love gothic horror, with its beleaguered heroines facing sinister and oppressive forces, brooding atmospheres and gloomy, often decrepit settings. These settings, in fact, are often characters in and of themselves, filled with cobwebs, shadows, and secrets galore. The mansion that's central to the story in Jeff Clulow's "Veil" is no exception, and just as the derelict halls of Aeolus House draw the protagonist, Suze Newman deeper into the mystery that is her family's storied past, so too does it pull the reader in, page by eagerly turned page.

Suze is an orphan, raised since birth in England's foster system. She has always felt disconnected from other people, despite her best efforts to fit in and bond with friends or foster families. She keeps her emotions bottled up inside, or rather, locked away in a metaphorical suitcase inside her mind, and ekes out an isolated, unfulfilled, and meager existence. When the story opens, she's hit rock bottom, having lost her job, which will inevitably mean losing the crummy little apartment that's more of a place where she keeps her few belongings than any real "home." Thus, when she receives notification that she is the sole beneficiary of a large estate belonging to the late Emma Lacey, her luck at last seems to be changing.

Suze learns that Emma was her birth mother, and when she travels to the rural English coast, finds a sprawling mansion called Aeolus House waiting. The home is named after a Greek wind god, and the name is more than fitting: from its lofty perch atop a rocky cliff overlooking the sea, the house is continuously battered by gales. From the looks of things inside the house, Suze discovers it hasn't fared much better. Emma, as it turns out, was a bit of a nut, as well as a hoarder, and the house she left behind is filled with heaps of old papers, books, newspapers, and trash. Among these, Suze finds a couple of curious items: a tattered old wedding dress and matching veil, and a box that once held a pair of antique dueling pistols, with one of the guns missing. All will become key elements as the story unfolds.

When Suze tries the wedding veil on, she's shocked to see the ghostly figure of a young man standing at the bottom of a stairwell. She pulls the veil away, and the apparition is gone. Each time she wears the veil, she sees visions throughout Aeolus House that she soon realizes are memories -- her mother, Emma's memories, to be exact. When one of these evokes feelings of overwhelming terror and dread, Suze realizes that something horrible happened to Emma once upon a time.

Through a series of twists and turns as treacherous as the foot paths from Aeolus House to the beaches below the cliffs, Clulow leads readers through the dark and disturbing mystery as Suze uncovers her family's past.

His writing style is lush, descriptive, and beautiful, and through his deft narrative, Aeolus House comes to life in minute detail. Like in all good gothic tales, it's much more than a setting, and for Suze, it serves as both an anchor to her roots -- a place she can finally call home -- and an albatross, weighing her down with the horrors her mother once endured.

Clulow's character development is likewise well-done. Suze is a relatable, likeable character, one who is easy to root for and empathize with. Again, like in all good gothic horror, there's a hint of romance when she's introduced to a handsome young solicitor charged with helping her inventory the estate to sell in probate, but Suze is no damsel in distress, nor does she need anyone to rescue her. In her, Clulow has created a gothic heroine with a modern mindset: strong-willed, fiercely independent, and more than capable to taking care of business for herself.

Clulow is a new writer to me, but one I'll seek out again. "Veil" is both haunting and harrowing, an exploration of a family's horrific past, and a young woman's triumph in overcoming it.

You can read the first two chapters and find pre-order/purchase links here: www.jeffclulow.com/books ...more

S.E.’s Year In Books

S.E. Howard’s Followers (16)

S.E.’s Bookshelves

S.E.’s Friends (3)

S.E. Howard

Goodreads Author

Learn more
Ask the Author

Combine Editions
S.E. Howard’s books

rss
S.E.’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — The Deeping by Antoinette McCormick

See a Problem?

Preview — The Inheritance of Giuliana by Alessandra Benini

See a Problem?

Preview — Let the Ghosts Sleep by Keller Agre

See a Problem?

Preview — The Rotting Room by Viggy Parr Hampton

See a Problem?

Preview — Homecoming by Micah Castle

See a Problem?

Preview — The World Turns Red by Tim Waggoner

See a Problem?

Preview — Devil Dancers by Bo Chappell

See a Problem?

Preview — Veil by Jeff Clulow

S.E.’s Friend Comments

	Worst Laid Plans: An Anthology of Vacation Horror by Samantha Kolesnik (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Sadie Hartmann (Goodreads Author) (Introduction), Hailey Piper (Goodreads Author) 3.75 avg rating — 476 ratings — published 2020 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Horror Collection: Amber Edition by Kevin J. Kennedy (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Mark Lukens (Goodreads Author), Mark Towse (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 60 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Push! An Anthology of Childbirth Horror by Ruth Anna Evans (Goodreads Author), Candace Nola (Goodreads Author), Marie Lestrange (Goodreads Author) 4.68 avg rating — 47 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Vessel: A Novel by S.E. Howard (Goodreads Author), Wicked House Publishing (Editor) 4.18 avg rating — 39 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Curious Case of Henry Harrington: A Short Story 4.53 avg rating — 17 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Prairie Madness 4.70 avg rating — 10 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Carnival of Horror: An Undertaker Books Anthology by D.L. Winchester, Leonardo Lemanna, Chloe York (Goodreads Author) 4.75 avg rating — 8 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hotel Evil: Vacancies 13 by Chisto Healy (Goodreads Author) (Author/Editor), N.M. Brown, T.M. Brown (Goodreads Author) 4.67 avg rating — 6 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	You've Been Saved 4.80 avg rating — 5 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sick Cruising by Notch Publishing House, Grant Butler (Contributor), Shivangi Narain (Contributor) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

S.E.’s Year In Books

S.E. Howard’s Followers (16)

S.E.’s Bookshelves

S.E.’s Friends (3)

S.E. Howard

Goodreads Author

Learn moreAsk the Author

Combine EditionsS.E. Howard’s books

rssS.E.’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — The Deeping by Antoinette McCormick

See a Problem?

Preview — The Inheritance of Giuliana by Alessandra Benini

See a Problem?

Preview — Let the Ghosts Sleep by Keller Agre

See a Problem?

Preview — The Rotting Room by Viggy Parr Hampton

See a Problem?

Preview — Homecoming by Micah Castle

See a Problem?

Preview — The World Turns Red by Tim Waggoner

See a Problem?

Preview — Devil Dancers by Bo Chappell

See a Problem?

Preview — Veil by Jeff Clulow

S.E.’s Friend Comments

Learn more
Ask the Author

Combine Editions
S.E. Howard’s books

rss
S.E.’s Recent Updates