Horror Books

I remember reading this as a little girl and LOVING it. I searched forever for this book -- I couldn't remember the title, and had to email lots of used booksellers asking for help. I finally found a used copy and purchased it a few years ago, and immediately fell in love all over again. I love the story of the sad little witch who is homesick, and who takes her feelings out on the Doon family through anger and disobedience. The Doons treat her lovingly anyway and soon she becomes recognizable as a real human little girl. A beautiful story!!

I, too, found this book when I was about 7 years old, at Hudlow Elementary in Tucson, AZ. I read it over and over, delighting in the tale of Little Felina. Imagine my surprise when I found in the author's biography that SHE LIVED IN TUCSON, TOO!

My mother suggested that I write to her and tell her how much I enjoyed her book. I did, and she wrote me back! I wrote her again and again -- and she wrote me back, always interested in my stories about school, my family, my pets and my desire to be a writer like her some day.

Fast forward 35 years... I haven't become a writer (at least not yet!), but I have led a very blessed life, made all the richer by people like Ms. Laughlin - who made me believe that anything was possible.

When I was 7 years old, I found the Little Leftover Witch at my local public library. I took it out so many times that the librarians began to hide it from me so that others could take it out. As I got older, I always looked for it on the shelf to make sure it was still there and to check the signature card with my name on it over and over again. When I became a mother, I went back to the library to see if it was still there. I was flooded with memories when I found it. I asked if I could purchase the book (there wasn't an Amazon.com yet)but was told that it could not be sold. I was sad but knew I would be able to find it when my daughter became old enough to read. A few years later I received a call from that library asking me if I was still interested in owning the book. They were planning to discard it because it was very worn (all the more better since I was the one who caused the wear). My daughter loves the Little Leftover Witch and we read it together every fall even though she is now 13. This is a wonderful book about love and family and the beauty of the book lies in its simplicity.

There's something truly magical about this book, which is what makes it so special to the people who read it when they were children. I'm now reading it to my 5-year-old daughter, and it's a great bribery tool to get her to clean her room, put up the dishes, etc., because all I have to say is, "We can read an extra chapter of Little Leftover Witch tonight..." and she's all over it! If you haven't read this book, find a copy and join the (huge) club of people who are willing to search high and low to track down a copy of something they read 30 years ago!

Sometimes when you revisit a childhood favorite you discover that much of what made it wonderful is "between the lines" and not there at all, just images you invested in it. But The Little Leftover Witch is really just as wonderful, funny, vivid and haunting as I thought at the time.

This was my FAVORITE book when I was seven, and took it just as a literal fairytale about what would happen if a little witch girl got left on a tree outside a human family's window on Halloween. At the time I much preferred mischievous Felina to sweet Lucinda. It's surprisng to read it again at this distance and see just how perfectly Laughlin captured the behavior of small girls without either fudging on their maturity or condescending to them!

I also found myself entirely in love with the world of the Doons. In fact, I reread the book as soon as I finished. This family is nice-- and yet, still believable. Mrs. Doon loses her temper (well, only after severe provocation when Felina brings the cat to the supermarket!)... and there are family traditions and little bits of individuality everywhere.

What I missed, reading this as a child, was the metaphor for adoption-- and the metaphor of how love can truly change a person. In the world of the Doon's, Felina's witchiness is a fact-- not a delusion-- and everyone in the town buys into it. But in the hands of the adult reader, Felina's witchiness is every lonely child's feeling of not belonging. No wonder all kinds of children love this book! It has everything-- terrific writing (brief enough for early-ish readers), memorable characters, humor, adventure-- and a terrific depiction of the power of love.

I just made it around to this Rickman novel after reading all of the Watkins series so far and 'Chalice' and 'Curfew.' This novel is classic Rickman. It has humor and spookiness and all the great details I love in these novels along with complex characterization and keen psychological insight. Though some of the more recent Watkins' novels have been a bit off, this one is a great read.

There's nothing wrong with fast food, or a fairly speedy trip to Outback, but nothing beats putting a roast in a slow cooker and letting the aromas and flavors seep into your consciousness all day long. Your patience wears thin and when the meal is finally ready to eat, you wolf it down like a starving person.

Okay, strange analogy, but this book had the same effect on me. It started cold, then warmed up gradually, until all my senses were captivated. My patience was starting to wear thin, then BOOM! the flavors all combined and it was every person for himself.

Did I like the book? Absolutely yes. Can I describe it to you? Um, nope. Luckily, there are other reviews here that have taken on that responsibility, and have done so very admirably. I did, in fact, pick up this book based on their recommendations. As a vague overview, you could say this is a mystery, a paranormal, a horror story, a religious confrontation, a small town mentality gone amuck, modern civilization overflowing its boundaries. A love story. A story of good and evil, pride and prejudice, charity and greed, science vs faith. Or... none/all of the above. Take your pick, all the spices are here, savor what you like, and push what you don't enjoy to the side of your plate (Yes, I'll stop, the analogy is starting to wear thin for me, too).

In short, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those who have time to appreciate the nuances of the plot. Those who can give little time to a book might want to wait until they can.

Anyone picking up this book looking for something like Stephen King or Dean Koontz will likely be disappointed. While the novel does involve supernatural elements, they are muted for much of its length - suggestive rather than in-your-face. Reading it, I was continually reminded of the work of John Cowper Powys - particularly A GLASTONBURY ROMANCE. The characters and setting are beautifully realized, and Rickman's writing is fluid without ever descending to the pap that constitutes most popular writing. It's been awhile since I've enjoyed a novel as much as I did this one, and I immediately purchased more of his work. Just don't expect Clive Barker.

Story: Bridelow is a (fictional) small town in central England, situated between the moors on one side, and an enormous peat-bog on the other side. Bridelow has been widely known for its beer (Bridelow Black) and more quietly known as the village in England that has stayed closest to its Celtic roots. Two religions co-exist there: the inhabitants openly worship in a Christian church, but there are other, quieter religious services, focused on the Goddess, and the Mother in Bridelow is not Mary, mother of Christ. The older, more "pagan" religion is overseen by the Mothers Union, a group of matriarchs who carry on the old ways and hold to the old lore.

But, things are about to change. First, the brewery gets bought out by a big corporate brewery, with many people losing their jobs. Second, the preacher at the Christian church falls ill, and is replaced, at least temporarily. Old Reverend Hans Gruber was originally an outsider, had but he had learned to peaceably co-exist with the Mothers Union and their beliefs. His replacement, Reverend Joel Beard, is a charismatic, let's-clean-house type, who takes it as his mission to "purify" Bridelow and drive out the evil pagan practices.

Is that all there is to it, though? Ma Wagstaff, the leader of the Mothers Union, distrusts coincidence, and suspects a connection between Reverend Beard and the selling of the brewery. Even Ma hasn't guessed at how big this really is, though!

The two central characters, amidst a large supporting cast, are Moira Cairns and Mungo MacBeth. Moira is a Celtic singer descended from a line of women who are not at all ordinary. She played in a band with two Bridelow residents, Matt Castle and Willie Wagstaff. Moira is not from Bridelow, but ends up being a crucial player in the battle that has been quietly, surreptitiously begun there. Mungo MacBeth is an American filmmaker of Scottish ancestry, who has been sent by his family to discover his heritage. He does, and it is much bigger, darker, and scarier than he expected. Will he and Moira survive? Will they end up together?

You might be wondering, about now, where the book's title comes from. While the local pub, connected to the brewery, is called The Man i' the Moss, that is not it. What starts all the wheels turning, toward disaster, salvation, or a bit of both, is the discovery, by a road construction crew, of a body buried in the peat-bog adjacent to Bridelow. An old body. Very old. The Man in the Moss turns out to have been an outsider, who was ritually sacrificed about a millenium before, to become the town's guardian against evil. When his peatmoss-preserved body is discovered, the government whisks it away to a museum for study. That's not good for Bridelow, who has lost its Guardian! Lo and behold, the body gets stolen and cannot be found by the authorities. But he will be found. And that's when things get really strange.

My take: This book is for patient readers only. There is a large cast of characters, all of whom are well-developed. The setting is also developed well, as is the theme of how pagan and Christian beliefs can mesh, or clash. All of that detail makes for a long story with a pace that is far from quick. The writing is impeccable, though, and the development of setting and cast combines with a complex plot to yield a very rich tale. The further you read, the more the story unfolds, and gets more intense, bizarre, and riveting. There are deaths, both predictable and not. Some big characters fade as the story progresses, to be replaced by others emerging into prominence. This story is as much about the town, its history, and its future, as it is about the people. The ending is, to some extent, what I expected, but is also very surprising, in other ways.

Now that I've read this book, I'd like to visit (fictional) Bridelow and meet (some) of these (fictional) people. But, I'd make it be on a sunny day, and I'd go with a friend, and I would be very careful to offend no one! Come to think of it, I did just go there.

Strengths: I know this town and these people. That's how well this tale is told.

Weaknesses: It is long (594 pages) and detailed; patient readers needed. Not for the squeamish, either!

Conclusion: This is a dark, complex horror story, rooted in Celtic beliefs and their meshing, or clashing, with Christianity. A long book, but well worth the effort!

Recommended: For those who love Celtic horror stories, and who are patient readers.

Something very exciting is happening in the small Welsh village of Bridelow.A 2000 year old body has been discovered perfectly preserved in the peat moss that surrounds the village. This book introduces the reader to the mystical Folk Singer Moira Cairns who I was delighted to learn also appears in several other of Phil Rickman's works.Moira is the obsession of a fellow deceased musician Matt Castle along with the Man In The Moss. This novel is dark, brooding and VERY atmospheric and the author weaves his tale with a deft hand. I have nothing but praise and admiration for this writer's works.

One of the best books I have read in a long time. Could not put it down. I have always thought I could figure out the plot. Not this time. Hope to see more from the author real soon.

I couldn't put this book down! I was so wrapped up in the characters and what would happen next that when I had to stop reading for a while it stayed with me and kept those wheels turning trying to figure out "who dunnit". I truly enjoyed this book. I hope we get to read more about Cody, he really comes to life.

I read "Night Whispers" through in one sitting. The plot was compelling, the characters real and the dialogue natural. It kept me turning the pages, and I was unable to second-guess the plot. How do I rate the book to someone who hasn't read it? Let me put it this way, I gave my copy to my Mother to read after I finished it.

Really couldn't put this book down. Colorful and real characters, accurate spy-tech, loads of insight (some so deep it will go right over most readers' heads) along with plenty of humor, excitement, suspense and lots of twists. Cloak-and-dagger combined with deep woods and southern culture(s) powered together in four wheel drive! Ingenious!

Emmett Clifford brings readers to the edge of their seats in his mystery novel, Night Whispers.

In this contemporary mystery, detective Cody Rainwalker leads the reader on a mission to solve the devious crimes of Scanner, a psychopath who chooses his victims by cell phone. Every page becomes a piece in solving the puzzle, but also a dreaded step in discovering who will become the next victim.

Clifford fans are sure to insist Night Whispers is only the beginning of Cody Rainwalker's detective career.

Wow. I was in my school library with my best friend Gisselle (which is a coincidence since a girl in the book is named Giselle) picking out a book to keep. I came across this book and it looked so interesting so I kept it. She had the same book. We both absoloutely love to read. Ever since that day Diane Hoh has been my favorite author. I read the book and I loved it! It's so mysterious. She makes me think something like that could happen to me.

I would not want to be Jess, the girl who gets haunted by Giselle.

I really like this book it was one of the most awsome books I've read in a while. Diane Hoh is a great author i think she's better then R.L. Stine! I don't understand why this books are out of print? Can anyone tell me?

This book is about a girl name Jess, she is student at Salem Universitiy, but she is in a off-campus dorm, but, a very strange one. Her room is very cold and there rumors about a girl that comited suicide in that same room are intimidating... No one in the campus likes to pass near it, everybody that knows they are there and is awere of what happened there, looks at Jess and her mates with petty in the eyes and comments that they hate passing by that place, it's freaky and weird. Who the wrote letter? Did Giselle really comited suicide?
Have a try to know the answers to the questions above, because it's worth it. It's very well written and the book totally absorves you since the begining... Diane Hoh, makes a perfect mix of suspence, horror and romance in a very thrilling way.... DO NOT MISS IT. YOU ARE THE ONE LOSING IT ANYWAY!

This book is about a girl name Jess, she is on a dorm off-campus. Her room is very cold and there rumors about a girl that comited suicide in that same room... Who the letter? Did Giselle really comited suicide?
Have a try, because it's worth it. It's very well written and the book totally absorves you since the begining... Diane Hoh, makes a perfect mix of suspence, horro and romance in a very thrilling way....

The Silent Scream strats the ball for Diane Hoh's Nightmare Hall series. The Silent Scream is a good way to do this> It tell's you of this beautiful girl who committed sucide but is that really true? Diane Hoh tells the story brilliantly and I love her books however I feel the ending was disappointing and unbelievable!

I enjoyed this book as much as Dairy Queen. I really like the fact that D.J. is such a down to earth girl. You can't help but like her. She really makes you think about what is really important in life...like family and having a good character. I think Dairy Queen and The Off Season would be great books for every teenage girl to read.

I have to hand it to Catherine Murdock for yet again crafting an excellent piece of literature. The character's voice in this story is incredibly strong! I listened to this book on c.d and whoever they hired to "be" D.J was made for the part.
This is a book I would give to a little sister or even best friend. It's inspiring and heartwarming and totally relatable (trust me girl playing football on a farm was not what I would've picked up first). Very Clean but also very honest. Perfect for your own personal library (I'm an adult teacher and I'm buying one for my home as well as my school). DJ is a positive a strong role model for young women. Loved the characters in this story. They were well crafted and complex, nobody was black and white which of course is what makes it so incredibly realistic. I can't wait for the 3rd and final book in this series!

When we last left D.J. Schwenk in Dairy Queen, she was trying to cope with her family's problems, the inclusion of Brian into her life, and surviving being on the Red Bend football team. You know, when most people thought girls shouldn't be on the team.

At first it seemed like she had found solutions to all of those problems. But all good things must come to an end, whether D.J. likes it or not.

With Brian being her sort of boyfriend, D.J. is pretty ecstatic, since not only is he hot and athletic, he is her first real boyfriend. But it sort of creates a problem since D.J. isn't so sure where there relationship is heading or if it is going at all. Brian isn't too sure, either, since it seems like D.J. would rather spend time with her family then hang out with him.

Her friend, Amber, is starting to get noticed, for all the wrong reasons, though. Now known as the girl with a girlfriend, Amber is beginning to change, once again, right in front of D.J.'s eyes, all because people in their town don't approve of that kind of relationship.

D.J.'s family is beginning to resolve their relationship problems. But when they think all is well, their financial problems come into play. Not only that, but D.J. herself and her brother, Win, suffer injuries that just might put an end to what they love the most.

While trying to control all of her problems, D.J. must be able to find her strength, the one that got her through her summer and the one that helped her get on the football team.

Once again, D.J. shines as a heroine who shows that everyone has the ability to get over any obstacle thrown their way.

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

In Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock, readers met a girl named D.J. who had to pick up the slack on her family's farm when her father's hip injury prevented him from doing the bulk of the work. She also had to help train Brian, the quarterback for the rival school's team. Her two older brothers were big hometown football stars - and now, unexpectedly, she might become one as well.

In the solid sequel, The Off-Season, D.J. continues to juggle her school life, her home life, and her sports life. Homework and farmwork just keep coming. Then she gets injured, which obviously and completely changes her athletic schedule. Further complicating matters are D.J.'s mixed feelings about Brian and her strained relationship with her best friend. When two other family members become hurt in debilitating ways, the Schwenks have to come together in a big way - and have to make even more sacrifices.

Give Dairy Queen and its sequel The Off-Season to girls you know who refuse to back down when coaches tell them girls shouldn't or can't play certain sports - and tell them that YES, THEY CAN!

Sometimes, after a successful first novel, its sequel may fall flat. This certainly is not true in the case of Catherine Gilbert Murdock's sequel to Dairy Queen. In The Off Season, we find D.J. Schwenk coping with even more challenges than ever, many of which could topple someone twice her age. While we know that D.J. has real style and substance, this time we find her to be more of a hero than ever. Once again, she rises to the occasion, providing the stability for her injured brother to move on with his life. A loyal friend, she stands behind her friend, Amber; and, because she believes in honesty, she refuses to look at her boyfriend through rose-colored glasses, realizing that he might not have the character she thought he had. Through it all, D.J. handles herself with the candor and composure her readers have come to love. Written with the same skill and intelligence as her first novel, this is another Murdock winner that you won't want to put down until the very last page.

What Northrup has to say is as interesting as the way he says it. I really loved his style of writing: chatty, wry, ironic, funny, serious--often at the same time.

I am so happy that he won the 1999 native american journalism award for his editorials, which appear in indian country today , news from inidan country and the circle. this book is wonderful and very funny! the poem he writes about John Wayne visitng Vietnam is a masterpiece and shows " the Duke" for what he really is a wimp and a wuz! get this book it's truly a gem!

This book is brutal without being harsh, funny without being lightweight. In a society where everyone (and I do mean everyone) is made to feel guilty for everone else's suffering, this is a breath of fresh air. The problems Northrup faces every day are aired alongside with the joys. For every pain, he offers a happiness.

And he never says you can't understand. He just offers another way to see his life.

Don't buy Ian Frazier's book if you want any kind of accurate picture of today's Indians. Buy this one instead - this is the book to get if you want to begin to understand the complexities of being an Indian. The author speaks to both the initiated and the ignorant. It's both a moving and a fun read.

I picked this book up at random while browsing the "Native American studies" shelf at my local book megastore, and I was quickly drawn in, reading it cover-to-cover in a day. Jim Northrop is an Anishinaabe who lives on the Fond du Lac Reservation in Northern Minnesota, and in this book he writes about reservation life, about Native American political issues, and about his own travels and experiences. One of the great strengths of this book is his honesty as a memoirist. While sticking largely to a humorous matter-of-fact tone, he does not shy away from his grief at his son's suicide attempt or his difficulties returning from war in Vietnam. Another strength is the conversational quality of the writing itself. At first it bugged me, short sentences put together into these meandering run-on paragraphs, but after some reading I began to think more of Italian vocal technique, where the tone continues, rising and falling, with words just dotted on the surface. Eventually it felt like I was just hanging out with the guy, listening to his interesting stories. There are times when the writing falls down, for example during an extended series of sports metaphors during a dicussion of racism, or in the rather forced series of kangaroo references when describing a tribal "kangaroo court". But despite these problems I found the writing compelling and accessible. I'm not qualified to analyze the political arguments he sometimes makes, but his perspective on treaty rights, sports mascots, and gambling will certainly stay with me, informing and broadening my thinking when I next encounter these issues in daily life.

From beginning to end it keeps you on the edge of your seat! An insightful and frightening journey into the world of spritual warfare that will leave you sleeping with the lights on. I'm an avid reader and never before has a book haunted my dreams like this one. Heisler is definately among the best! Can't wait for his next!

SALVATION is the real deal. I like it more than Stephen King's THE SHINING and possibly more than Blatty's novel THE EXORCIST.

I've read hundreds of horror novels, and I can spot a good one.

SALVATION consists of a prologue and six parts. I recommend skipping the prologue at first and waiting until after you've finished reading part three. Read the prologue sometime after that.

I think one of the main characters should appear in some sequels, but I'm concerned about some of his powers. I think Arandavius has too much power to heal people and undo physical damage to objects. (At least the author limited Arandavius in some way: he can't cure insanity.)

I hope the storyline of any sequel features action in at least two places at the same time. Arandavius apparently can't be in two places at once. (He can travel quickly though -- almost instanteously. He just walks into a shadowy corner in one room and walks -out- of a shadowy corner in a completely different building. Pretty cool.)

Also recommended: Heisler's "Santa's Little Helpers", Stephen King's "Cell" and "Desperation", and William Peter Blatty's "The Exorcist."

PLEASE FORGIVE MY WRITING BUT ALL I CAN SAY IS "WOW", I STARTED THIS BOOK DURING THE DAY AND WAS AFRAID TO GO DOWN THE BASEMENT! AS IT GOT DARKER SO DID MY IMAGINATION, SO I DIDN'T MOVE WITHOUT MY DOG BESIDE ME. I HAVEN'T BEEN AFRAID TO SLEEP WITHOUT A LIGHT ON SINCE THE "EXORCIST", BUT MY ELECTRIC BILL IS DOING DOUBLE TIME! I CANNOT WAIT FOR A SEQUEL, I'M HOPING THERE IS GOING TO BE ONE. I LOVE THE WRITERS STYLE AND I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE AN AUTHOR TO LOOK FOR ON THE BEST SELLERS LIST! GLAD I GOT THIS BOOK AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT, IT WAS VERY GOOD.

W A Heisler has quickly become one of my favorite authors. This book is a great read. It kept me in suspense and on constant guard of my surroundings while I read it. I highly recommend it!

move over dean koontz, stephen king, peter straub. there's one new scary mother in town. i read this book in record time. characters will forever be memorable. arandavius is impressive, i do not want to ever meet him in a dark or well lit place, but i definitely want him in my corner in the event that i would have to need him. i will also say that one night when i finished reading, i kept the lights on all the way to bed, if i wasn't a mature, fairly rational adult, i would have looked under the bed. awesome book. loved it, can't wait for the next book.

Wishing Makes It So is a horrific tale about a mini-monster infiltrating a sympathetic family. Belinda, a beautiful five year old orphan, moves in with The Chrestmans, a loving family willing to share their hearts and home. But being compassionate can prove fatal when the new member of the family isn't the center of attention.
Marilyn Meredith weaves a skin crawling web of manipulative scheming and diabolical actions that will make you cringe. This book is addictive. Its pages turn as if it has a will of its own. Her story telling is artfully done making the characters seem as real as a person sitting in front of you and the antagonist as threatening as a stranger tailing you in a dark alley. Loved it!
Violette L. Reid, PeachPublishing

"A psychological thriller is played out in Wishing Makes It So. This incredible story will amaze readers as the devious acts of a sociopath are revealed."

"Steven and Alyse Chrestman are the proud parents of three adorable children, Andrew, Holly and Pammy. They feel that they have been blessed with a loving family and decide to open up their home to a four-year-old girl named Belinda."

"Little do they know that Belinda has been place and moved from several foster homes due to behavioral problems and demented incidents that have endangered the lives of others."

"Belinda immediately begins to cause havoc in the Chrestman's home. Alyse becomes suspicious of her as she catches her in numerous lies and it appears that she is intentionally trying to harm the other children. Unfortunately, Steven turns a blind eye to the deceitful deeds of Belinda. He doesn't realize until it's too late that they have opened their home to a killer."

"This is a chilling read that will intrigue and surprise readers."

Wishing Makes It So is a shocking thriller about a couple with three children who take in a female four-year-old formerly bounced around a variety of foster homes. Secure in their belief that they can give their new charge a loving, stable environment, they are unaware of the seemingly innocent girl's all-consuming drive to be an only child. It is a yearning that will drive the little girl to ruthless and deadly acts, even as her nautral charm disguises her murderous intentions, in this taut and chilling novel.

With a heartfelt conviction that "love conquers all", Alyse Chrestman convinces her husband, Steven, and their two older children, Holly and Andrew, to open their hearts and home to an unfortunate foster child. Four-year-old Belinda Sleigh seems to be the perfect candidate and fits in nicely between eighteen-month-old Pammy, the youngest Chrestman, and Holly and Andrew. Steven's experience as a counselor and Alyse's teaching skills, along with their combined success in a marriage where love and nurturing are the norm has already produced three happy, well-adjusted children and leaves no doubt as to their capabilities to handle whatever initial challenges might arise. With the help of housekeeper, Celina, and her husband and groundskeeper, Juan Miguel, little Belinda's life is about to turn into a fairy tale.



Dismayed that Belinda shows her no affection, Alyse watches as the beautiful little waif seeks comfort and acceptance in the arms of Steven, who has always strived to show equal attention and time to each child. It is soon evident that Belinda has Steven wrapped around her little finger when he continues to dismiss devious pranks played on Belinda's new siblings as accidents. Little Pammy alone is unwavering in her love and acceptance of the newest member of the family. When Alyse and the older children realize little Belinda's malicious behavior is more than they can handle, Alyse is accused of jealousy and their once-solid marriage may be moving toward rocky ground.



An unheeded warning, a heart-wrenching discovery and an unbelievable accusation keep this plot moving at a fast and furious pace. Despite the fact I was warned that Wishing Makes It So is a dark novel, I was unprepared for the raw emotion I had to deal with as I agonized with this unsuspecting family. Just when you think you can let down your guard and life is returning to some semblance of "normal", the terror starts anew.



Put an extra cushion on your reading chair, folks. If you like edge-of-your-seat suspense, that's where you'll be perched until you reach the very last page. Meredith dispenses suspense and horror with equal disregard for your anxiety level as she interrupts the cozy life of the Chrestman family in this superb tale of blood-curdling psychological suspense.

Author Marilyn Meredith has written some very good books over the years--many of which I have read prior to reading her latest suspense thriller "Wishing Makes It So". However, this is not like any of her other creative efforts--and it is certainly her best work to date. She takes a four-year foster child with such an innocent looking persona and gives us a charming and evil little manipulative monster. The storyline involves malicious and dangerous behaviors by poor little Belinda that ruins a wonderful family whose only intentions were to give her a loving family.

Meredith is a master at using a good mix of dialogue and characterizations with her narrative, so that the plot unfolds to give the reader a great psychological horror story. The story is fresh and alive and will grab the readers fullest attention--not allowing them to walk away form the book until they have devoured the last pages to find out what conclusion awaits them. It is a page burner that readers will find un-nerving but very much entertaining. This will become a classic novel of its genre someday, once others in the media discover this hidden gem as I have!

The American Authors Association (AAA) gives this book a FIVE STAR rating and a recommendation to buy and read this book!

If you are a fan of the on line comic series you will enjoy this. If you are not a fan, it will seem a bit ho hum. Bottom line is that this is a good example of the genre, and it has the legs for a sequel, or even a full length feature.

If you loved the xombie webisodes, BUY THIS.
If you haven't seem the webisodes, BUY THIS, and watch them while it ships.

Like most books, this book has a lot of additional depth and really fleshes out the story with additional details not in the 'movie'. The story is great for all ages and genders, I have 3 nieces that are taking turns with the book. I am now waiting for the 4th comicbook that continues the story(James, 2 months is killing me, how about every 2 weeks).

This is a very imaginitive and original story with a suprising amount of philisophical depth to it, I can't really come up with a good comparison that does it justice, if you want to get a feel for the story watch the webisodes, I am sure that like me you will then have to buy the book.

Great Read Luved it,if you like zombie tales theres a nice twist here not a intellectual read but very entertaining it is what it is and its very very good at itAAA

My husband and I love xombie. We loved to watch the online cartoon together so I bought him this book for his birthday and he really likes it.

I am a lover of all things zombie. Finding this fantastic story was one my all time thrills.

I am a zombie traditionalist, liking the classic lumbering Romero zombies of old and any twist on that basic tale. I do like a lot of the variants out there too, ones that are creative and different from the norm, though some I find less interesting that are out there in book form. Others are quite creative and intriguing. This one, with its two intelligent Xombie variants, Dirge and Nephthys, and the colorful cast of characters, living, dead, and alien, is something I found to be exceptionally fun and entertaining.

Dirge is one of the coolest heros I have seen in a while. Sure, he is a zombie, but he is sentient and along with his undead dog Cerberus, has taken on the daunting task of leading an innocent living six year old girl, Zoe, through a city of the dead...a city bent on having their way with her.
On the way they meet up with another sentient Xombie varient in Nephthys, an ancient Egyptian hottie who barely looks dead and knows how to kick some major alien butt.

Oh yeah, the aliens. Well, suffice it to say not all questions are answered in this tome, but there was plenty of action and a great storyline. I had a blast reading this. I just received Xombie Volume 1, Reanimated, which I can't wait to sink my teeth into.

It was easy reading and fast. There were times it was hard to put down and others I just couldn't stay focused. It's a good fantasy about love, loyalty, right/wrong. However, when it was done, I felt it was a story stating to me, believe in yourself and don't be mean to your dog. I just wasn't that impressed with the book. It started off excellent with the 1st kill, but then it just didn't have that same excitment page after page. It felt long. I found myself wondering when I was going to finish it.

This book is a beautifully written fantasy. Confronting issues regarding identity & family, this tale flows from one chapter to the next. The author fully meets her goal of writing a story that one would be happy to listen to at the fireside.

This book is really suspenseful and exciting, and the same thing never happens more than once. If you like fantasy like me, then you are sure to like this book! A book that is unlike any other that I have read, and a definate thing for any good wish list.

If you like fantasy, you'll love The Beast of Noor. Janet Lee Carey has created a brother and sister who take us on a journey that I will never forget. They sacrifice all to save those they love and then go one better and sacrifice even more to save the beast. The outcome is unforgettable. I highly recommend this book.

Miles and Hanna Ferrell live in the country in Ennes Isle, just outside of Shalm Wood. Miles wants nothing more in life than to go to Othlore and be trained in magic. He's been studying with the Falconer, but he feels like his teacher is holding him back more than he's helping. If only the Falconer would teach Miles a few spells... Hanna just desperately wants to feel normal and safe. But between her different colored eyes, the legend surrounding her family, and especially since the return of the Shriker, it doesn't look like normal or safe are in Hanna's future.

Stranded in a cave to escape a surprise storm, Grandpa tells them again the legend of the Shriker. He tells them how the Shriker used to be a brave and faithful dog, until he ways betrayed by his own master and cursed by death himself. Now, as the Shriker, he hunts human prey every full moon. The master who betrayed him, Rory Sheen, happens to be an ancestor of Miles and Hanna. Now that he's back the brother and sister won't be safe in the village, and no one is safe in the woods once the sun goes down.

When Miles tries to take matters into his own hands, things get more than a little out of control. Suddenly it's up to Hanna to save him. Hanna was always the quiet one. The one who stood back and let Miles handle things. The one who asked for the happy tales by the fire, because the others scared her too much. Now, she's right in the middle of the scariest one of all, and if she ever wants to see her brother again she'll need to find a lot of inner strength, and quickly.

This is a great, creepy, interesting tale. I don't know how comfortable I would be hearing it at a fire on a dark night. Granted, I'm a big wimp, but that's only part of the point. It's scary enough for those who are looking for that, but it's also a great story, which is what good legends are. There's a fair amount of fantasy, a little magic, personal discovery, even a sweet little love story woven in. There's a little bit of something for everyone. Perfect for a stormy, foggy night, curled up with hot chocolate, warm and safe in your house.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman