Horror Books

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.

I won't get into the book's premise; you can read all about that in the description above.

Keep in mind that this is a British author and the story takes place in Scotland and Northern England--if locale is a deciding factor for you. It may also require a bit of patience from readers who are used to shorter novels; this is a 600-pager, not meant for those who like a "quick read." But let me tell you, the rewards are definitely worth it. It's one of those books where the characters are very special and therefore you do not want the book to end, even though you're dying to find out what happens next.

For those who enjoy supernatural fiction they can sink their teeth into, look no further. Rickman provides the detailed characterization and spooky atmosphere that many chill-seekers are craving. It takes a lot of skill to pull off a book this involved, but no worries; Rickman has the necessary talent.

A book to treasure. Highly recommended.

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.

This Amazon Short had GREAT potentual but somewhere along the storyline towards the end the author wrote as if he didn't know where to go once the park scene was written. Sad becuase this could have been a great story with a little more effort. And the "sexual" thoughts fo the main person in the story at the beginning were totally unnessassary and detracted FROM the story rather then added to it---confusing and predictable but still towards the end a good story.

ERO starts fast and grisly... No, I am not describing an amorous scene but it could well be. Mercy! There is a Deniz Washington, and a Lileth: who is not the author of a scientific textbook, or the female protagonist of 'Neatherland Omnibus' or 'Otherworldly Affair'. Lileth Barker has more cause for concern than a drive-by of the day, as fellow lawyer Washington recounts it. When there isn't enough mineral makeup to climb on, only liberal tension between Lileth and her colleague, our protagonist opts for a midnight walk through Lafayette Park. She is full of optimism that an exploration of nature, and the possible comeliness of dusk winds that surround it, may abet the erosion of her renegade thoughts. The dusk winds are not comely but they do erode the concerns of her rebel flesh. What they do not erode are Lileth's findings: that deprived citizens of lean-tos, members of the abyss of poverty and abandonment, can leave one profoundly changed, even if that abyss were simply Lafayette Park. Energized by dark winds, this Amazon Short does deliver what it promises: a lawyer in jeopardy. Authentic dialogue plants crucial clues that in concert reveal contemptible and odious characters (not always the hobos). Author E. Robert Orn builds a darkness and dilapidation that walks us into invasive psychosis that is worrisome because, in the dregs of neo-society, that neurosis may not be delusional.

The words listed above are rarely associated with short form literature, but in this case they all apply. Mr. Orn's ability to paint settings and characters with words is truly remarkable.

Ordinarily one might ask, how is it possible to tell a story and still develop character to the extent as what might be found in a full-length novel? He does so by making all that magnificent prose essential to the story and it takes the reader into the mind of the character so well that the chilling situation at the end almost seems personal. I don't think I will ever look at vagrants the same again.

The character of Lileth is so well portrayed that I think I would recognize her if I saw her on the street. Any potential writer who may wonder at how to develop a character or describe a scene should look at this story, because here it is done to perfection.

Though taking place at dark, the story is vibrant with impressive prose and the writing skill is evident throughout the story. Absolutely scintillating!

The Midnite Lunch Truck by E. Robert Orn is distinguished by the author's unique grotesque inventiveness in addition to his superb plot construction. Mr. Orn charges the reader as witness, and in doing so, entangles the mind to a confused, horrified, helpless state.
Great read, this E. Robert Orn.

Robert Meacham- Amazon Short contributor and poet.

Aren't all government-programs-run-amok rather disturbing? But wait, this is no government program - or isn't it? Either way, it works. It works very well. This story starts driving down a fairly straight road, then takes a sharp, left turn and ends up in the section of the city where we've always been warned against going. Unlike other stories with similar theme, there is no redemption to be found here, though, only horror. Very fitting to the Serlingesque genre of which E. Robert Orn references.

Orn builds wonderful elements of foreshadowing - giving little hints that something is askew - all the way from when the protagonist hears about G Dray Gon's fate to when she leaves her office for a midnight stroll through DC (the thought of such may be a bit of a premise stretch, but that is the only weakness I could find in the story, and it's easily overlooked) to the penultimate and oddly logical end.

He develops a sense for his characters quite well, to the point where we can nod and say, "yeah, I know someone like that." That is very very important to the short story format as it creates credibility. The Midnight Lunch Truck is not a story for those who are squeamish and timid. But for those of us who grew up on the staples of The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery and Circle of Fear, it is supremely satisfying.

Have you ever had telekinetic powers and want to get rid of them? Well, a girl named, Felicia, in Runaway by R.L.Stine did. Before her telekinetic powers start up again, she wanted to run away. However, everyone knew she had these powers and that her two best friends were dead as a door nail because of them. Rather than staying where she was, Felicia ran away from her family and friends to a small town called Shadeyside. There she meet two new wonderful friends. Their names were Zan and Nick. They got her a job cooking hamburgers at a local resturant, and seemed pretty nice. Zan Nick and Felicia stayed friends for quite a long time. One day, Felicia, overheard two boys talking about how they can't watch a man's cat while he was on a vacation anymore. She needed the money and a place to sleep at night, so she asked them if she could watch the cat. They said sure,why not. The next day at work, Zan told her to change the light bulb in the storage room. When she got there, the room was flooded with water like an indoor pool. When she took the light bulb out of it's socket, it started a fire. No one was hurt and everyone got out safly. That night, when Felicia entered the den area of the man's home, it looked like a hurricane had hit. There were papers off the desk and on the floor. Just a she was about to clean up the papers, she noticed there was blood on the walls, too. When Felicia went to wipe the blood off the walls, she realized it was only red paint. The thought that someone knows who I really am scared her silly. When Felicia is about to runaway agian, someone finds out who she really is. Who could it be? Ladies and gentlemen, I invite and encourage you to read this fabulous book, Runaway, by R.L. Stine.

i love it!r.l stine did a great job on this but isnt for childeren uder at least 13 because how the gresome detail about "oh kristy!"felicia cried.one of the support beams had cut off kristys arm.felicia could see the white bone and the ragged layers of muscle."bricks had cruched anys face his nose and lips and eyelids scraped raw" so i warn u this is not for young childeren if you are in to gruesomw stuff like me you should reaf this but i just wanna warn you the details are pretty gruesome if you love r.l. stine read this during the day cause at night when kristy and andy are found you may see visions of them beware!

This book diserves a 5 because the way that he puts out the story just blows your mind... I like the way he put a little bit of drama, suspence, and a tiny bit of romance. Don't forget the crazy people. He is one of my favorite authors. Next to Stephen King that is.

I realy enjoyed the runaway. last sunday i was coming home from florida and read 8 chapters. I would of read all of it but i slept instead. Then the next morning i read the book in 2 hours which is the fastest ive ever read a fear street. I have a hard time reading books usualy but this one realy interested me so it was alot easier. This was with out a doubht one of rl's finest.

Have you ever heard of a girl with telekinetic powers? Well in the book Runaway a girl named Felicia has powers to move things with her mind. One problem, she couldn't control her powers. So she became a runaway. After he escaped all the tests people were doing on her she went to a town called Shadyside. There she met a boy called Nick and his girlfriend Zan, short for Alexandria. Felicia became runaway because at her old town she killed two people. Zan found out about her secret and tried to kill her. Next her friend Debbie tried to kill her. Do you think she think survived?
While I was reading the book, I was on the edge of my seat. Everyday I read two to four chapters. When I was reading the book I pictured I was in the book watching everything. Everyday when I was in school I couldn't wait until my study hall so I could read the book. One weekend I stayed up from 9:00pm to 1:00am finishing the book. I absolutely could not put the book down. The book had so much action and excitement. That is what I look for in a book.
Felicia, the protagonist, is tall, slender, brown eyes, and long brown hair. Her personality traits are nice, caring, helpful, concerned, generous and courageous. She showed she was helpful by helping out at the Burger Basket. She showed she was courageous when the Burger Basket started on fire and people were still trapped inside the building. She went inside and cleared the fire with her telekinetic powers. She has a couple of strengths and weaknesses. Her strengths are that she has telekinetic powers. Her weaknesses are that she cannot control them. They just go off when ever they feel like it. An example is when she was in school, she felt the powers swell inside of her, then they just burst out and a row of lockers began to tremble and books began to slam against the lockers.
Felicia seems like a nice girl. She seems she would help out no matter what the situation. She acted strange a few times but people got used to it, except for Zan. It seems like she had a lot of adventures. This was a good book, I hope you read it.

I love the Sammy Keys books, Sammy manages to deal with the problems of being a modern adolecent, and solve mysteries too! And while she does it she she manages to stay true to her friends, her family and basic good ideals.

In this exotic story a girl named Sammy Keyes and her friends must solve the mystery of who tried to kill Chauncy LeBard and who stole his 500,000 dollar books!!!!!! Along the way Sammy pulls a prank on her worst enemy Heather Acosta. With the help of Officer Borsch and "Muscles", Sammy finds out who the almost - murderer is!!!!!!!! But if I told you who, it wouldn't be much of a mystery, now would it ???????

Sammy soon discovers that revenge isn't always so sweet, for once she pulls her prank on Heather she ends up with 20 hours of detention!!!!!!! In this particular book it's rather hard to spot the themes and messages, but sometimes that's what makes a mystery so well, mysterious!!! You may think that this book is scary because there is an attempted murder but it's not, it's an awesome book with a couple of funny bits here and there.

This book is an exciting mystery that will take you into it's pages so your standing right there next to Sammy as she unravels the mystery just like a mini Nancy Drew. So since this is such a good book I recommend it to you immensely. Put it on your "Books to read" list or something. I'm serious, read it.
PLEASE??????

I read a pretty cool book called Sammy Keys and the Skeleton Man. The book is about a girl who finds out that a guy dressed up like a skeleton stole stuff from a person named Mr. Frankenstein. The reason why they call him Mr. Frankenstin is because he where's a mask that helps him breath. The skeleton man who stole from his house then sold it to the market. She tries to stop the skeleton man from doing it again, so when she finds out where the skeleton man stole, she goes to his house and talks to Mr. Frankenstein and sees if he remembers anything that happened. When she talks to him he barley remembers anything so she tries to trace the clues to see who did it. It brings her to a store when she finds who did it. She gets him trapped then calls the police. Then the skeleton man goes to jail, and then Mr. Frankenstein gets his stuff back and everything is over.

I think the book's message is when you're trying to look for something and you cant find it you should always try to find clues. I also think that when you're about to give up, don't, because there will be always another way to solve it. Sometimes it will be good to ask someone for advice to help you in some ways. The last thing is you should never steal from anyone or a friend you know might tell on you.

I recommend this book to you because it's a pretty cool book. You will always want to see what happens next. I liked it because it was always brings a questions to the book. I also liked how they always add clues to the book and how they put more characters in the book that's why I like this book.

Sammy doesn't look for trouble, but it usually finds her. In this case, it's on Halloween, when she gets run over by a skeleton with a bag of stolen goodies, who sets a fire in a spooky house. And that's just the beginning. Sammy is right-on, as are her friends, Marissa and Dot. But she doesn't sound nearly as convincing with her adult voices, especially Grams, who sounds like she's 30, rather than 55-plus. Overall, a good mystery, in a great series. This book is Awsome!

7th grader Sammy Keys has got a lot of troubles on her hands. It all started on Halloween at the bush house with her friends. At the bush house no one answered and Sammy saw a fire. After Sammy put it out with a sweater they found Chancey Lebard (the owner of the house, who they call the bush man)tied to a chair. It turns out he was robbed, and sammy was interested an started investigating. The sweater she put the fire out withturned out to be [expensive]. If it got all burn't up, she'd be in trouble.

those are not the only problems Sammy beholds. Her worst enemy Heather wasmaking a fool of her but every one thinks it is really Sammy. as far as Sammy is concerend it is payback time for Heather.

I like every thing about this book. I really like howit has a lot of problems at one time, it makes it more interesting. It also usesgood detail and description. Sammy Keys and the Skeleton Man is full of suspenceand i couldn't put it down. I can't think of anything ididn't like about this book except it had to end.

I love this book! The horror/sci-fi genre has gotten stuck on certain elements of the supernatural, such as vampires and werewolves. This book is a creative departure from the same old stuff. I have never read a book about a wendigo, a legendary Native American shape-shifting creature. Not only is it a page turner, it's scary. I wish there were a lot more books like this.

Having grown up in the bootheel of Southeast MO, I found the book particularly interesting. The area covered in the book is a rich area of (excuse the phrase) rural legend. A good read with good suspense and imagination.

The horror/ sci-fi genre has gotten stuck on certain supernatural elements, such as vampires and werewolves. This book is a refreshing departure from the same old stuff. I had never read a book about a wendigo, a legendary Native American shape-shifting creature. Not only was the book a page turner, it was scary! I wish there were a lot more books like this.

Sikes is a terrific creation, a man-wolf on a mission. He's as good a character as the wulfies Harry Shannon's Night of the Werewolf, and that's saying something. This book is right up there with The Totem, Howling and Wolfen just not as well known.

If you're looking for an excellent Classic horror story that actually delivers real terror and suspense this is certainly the one . Better than Masterson, King, Koontz, Saul or Laymon and I say that without reservation. Easily ranks with the best and that is very rare. This is not splatterpunk THANK GOD!!!

In Tales of Dirt, Danger and Darkness, Paul Steward shows us the intensity, the peril, the exhilaration of subterranean exploration. These tales will thrill, amuse, and frighten--in other words, they do exactly what good stories are supposed to do, entertain and inform.

This book is a must-read for cavers and non-cavers alike, and for adventurers in general (including the armchair variety).

Paul Jay Steward's novel of short stories, "Tales of Dirt, Danger, and Darkness," is a variety show of caving macabre. The author is your host as he appears throughout the book as if to say, "Welcome to my nightmare." Every page is filled with wry commentary and twisted wit as Paul guides you through caving anecdotes and tales that will make you paranoid enough to avoid the dark recesses of your own garage. This book not only held my interest, it also gave me the creeps and made me laugh out loud. I heartily recommend this one.

Although not a caver myself, I certainly have enjoyed the beauty of caves. They have always seemed to have a life of their own, but now, after reading this collection of stories, I see dark and terrifying things in every corner (which is not a bad thing since I love a good horror tale).

These stories truly reach out and grab your heart and give it a good twist. No matter what your views were on caves before, wonderful or scary...you won't walk away from this book and see them the same ever again.

Mr. Steward's book should come with a sticker like a sign I once saw at a cave entrance. "WARNING, ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!"

I once enjoyed going into caves. Now I think I'll just be content with the IDEA of going into caves.

Seriously, Paul Steward's stories are intriguing and scary. In fact, the next time I'm with friends at a late-night campfire I'm going to pull out Paul's book and read the one about the two guys who make the mistake of trying to convince a landowner to let them explore a cave on his property...

If you think you like caves, you need to read this book. There are some things you should know...

Outrageous, bizarre and funny, Paul Steward's book, TALES OF DIRT, DANGER AND DARKNESS, transports the reader into realms of terror not often visited. The horrors of the cave world, presented as entrapment and death, remind the reader that, in darkness, the mind is precariously perched between fantasy and reality and between good and evil. The terror of being accountable to the devil is there because of human greed and the desire for fame and power. And Steward often approaches the episodes in this book with subtle humor. We all have our spiritual dark sides, so clearly presented in this book. An electrifying collection of original short stories, and an excellent read!

Teeth is one of those books that really succeeds in taking you to a different world. Its brutal, entertaining, and better yet- it has what most books in its genre are missing- a depth of human emotion that brings the characters to life in the reader's mind. . Teeth goes way beyond the status quo for the vampire genre. Any writer can use their pen to slice and mangle human bodies all day long, but if you're not writing characters I can connect with, the cries fall on deaf ears.
-A very creative piece of fiction -Definitely a five star read

This book was a real page turner from beginning to end. Normally used to the fast pace of actual Vietnam war air combat accounts, I was surprised to note that Mr. Damanda kept the air speed up and G-loading on from the very beginning to the very end of the story, leaving the reader gasping for a sequel in addition. Character development was great too, with the evolution of Nicholas and the good cop Gillis as vampire hunter. All things considered, a highly recommended read.

When we're kids, we're taught to avoid the dark because of all the monsters lurking in it - the witches, vampires and werewolves waiting to swoop in and take us for nefarious purposes. Of course, when we grow older we realize those stories were told chiefly to shelter us from the more realistic danger of murderers and kidnappers waiting to drag us into their vans.

But what if those murderers and kidnappers actually were the monsters of our youth and not simply disturbed individuals? That blend of real and imagined danger is the core of "Teeth: A Horror Fantasy," the debut novel of writer Marcus Damanda. A tense, shocking novel, it offers a more contemporary type of vampires and makes them as frightening as any serious Dracula depiction.

The story centers on a small Virginia town, where a small clan known as the Damworths have come to feed. As they settle in and begin preying on the residents, they will cross paths with two of the town's resident outcasts: an albino high school student named Nicholas and a dishonored deputy named Frank Gillis. This contact will lead to an escalating body count and exercise of supernatural powers, culminating in a night-long siege on a juvenile hall.

"Teeth" advertises itself as a horror fantasy, and it certainly matches its title. Damanda creates horrifying scenes such as a ritual slaughter by the Damworths and a midnight forest battle between Nicholas and a wolf-creature, all of which are blood-drenched and vividly written. The climactic siege is particularly alarming, rolling out all levels of vampiric powers and turning children into combatants against the police.

Characterization is also very important to the novel. The vampires are not the stereotyped Europeans but a mix of different personalities, including a coldly proficient leader, a gregarious black music fan and an emotional stargazing redhead. Nicholas, who suffers excessive torment from bullies and his father, is the poster child for troubled teens and is depicted as excellently conflicted between his humanity and the chance to escape it. This psychological debate is almost as frightening as the violence, for the possibility that thousands of students in his shoes would eagerly take the option.

"Teeth" is the sort of novel that makes you look twice at any nondescript van in a parking lot, look over your shoulder at an unlit forest and eat a heavier dose of garlic at dinner - in short, an excellent thriller. It shows the reader a very dark and compelling world that, despite the unnerving feeling, is worth sticking around for.

I picked up this book several months ago, interested in reading it as it stared at me from up on my shelf of "to do" reading ever since. I finally got around to it and am very glad I did. I do not read a huge amount of Vampire fiction. Well, I guess that depends on one's perspective, perhaps, as I have read several stories throughout my adult life but it has never been a staple of my reading diet. Part of that, I suppose, is the plush, Harlequinish type novels that are out there--longing, lust, and monsters with a genteel nature. I enjoyed the movie 30 Days of Night for the simple fact that the Vampires were truly monsters, not icons of lust and power that everyone envies or desires to be with. I do respect the mysterious allure and power associated with Vampires but I have grown weary of the soft or hardcore porn take that some authors like Laurell K. Hamilton have taken in their vampire based novels.
Teeth does not play nice with its Vampire archvillains. These folks are not sweet, mornful souls that you almost feel sorry for. They are brutal, vicious killers, using all their supernatural powers to plow through as many victims as they need both to sate their hunger and to have a wickedly good time. Certainly there is a aura of power and along with that incredible desire but we are never subjected to the wimpy vamps whose tormented souls get boring, fast.
Our main character, Nicolas, is an outcast teen who struggles with everyone around him--his classmates, his parents, and even himself. When the Damworths, a traveling band of vamps, converge on his small town and start wreaking havoc, Nicolas is sucked up into the whirlwind of their power and carnage. I liked the character and while I could not completely identify with his sense of being locked out of everything normal in life, the author did a great job of pulling us into his world, his tortured existense that gave the character a compelling sense of realism.
I found this author's take on vampires to be compelling as well. They are raw, brutal, and nearly unstoppable. The author does not relent, only allowing a slight glimmer of their former humanity to shine through but never allowing it to cripple them in anyway. Even if one of them can still experience love, it does not stand in the way of the destruction they unleash. There is no mercy here, no remorse or regret.
A fast paced, exciting read that made me appreciate vampires all over again.

I look forward to the sequel, which there most certainly will be based on the ending of this story. For a first time novelist, Marcus Damanda has done a outstanding job in scribing this tale.

A friend dangled the hook of fresh blood in the vampire genre, and I bit. From the first page I was pulled away from my world and into Damanda's, taking every turn with Nicholas as his saga unfolds. From sympathetic characters that are easy to identify with to horror you hope never to be a part of, Teeth will take you on a wonderful ride where the delineation between good and evil vanishes in a haze of love, hate and loneliness.

One of the best parts of this book is knowing that there is more to come! Damanda sets the stage for a sequel that I will be eagerly awaiting. I just closed my office door for the past 2 hours, hiding from my boss so I could finish Teeth. If you fear another tired, cheesy vampire story, don't. You will love the quality and creativity of this book.

Good luck in finding the original titled novel anywhere. Copies are hard to come by in any condition. Mine is "The Literary Guild of America," 1942. Hard Cover. The dust jacket has a picture of a house and a tree over looking a cliff to the see. At first I thought it was taken from the scene in the movie by the same name. However that is the description in the book. There is even an edition that was made for the troops during the war. And not any cheaper is the Bantam Books, 1947 Paperback.

Unless you collect screen plays, be careful as the play is also out in book form.

I first saw the movie (1944) that is good in its own right. Staring Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey. You know it will be different but which one is better. In this case they are quite different and both just as good in different ways.

Roderick Fitzgerald and his sister Pamela are in search of a house and find one with some beach front. After negotiation the price they move in and may have found more then the bargain. Read about there unique way of coping with the situation.

The story is refreshing. However the real worth of the book is the writing style of Dorothy Macardle. I was not prepared with my English to English conversion books. She also writes in the time of the time and uses terms local to the England of the 40's If you like this story then she also wrote "The Unforeseen" equally as good.

I first read this book at about the age of ten, after watching the 1944 film on late night on television (I was enthralled). There are sub-plots and characters which weren't included in the movie version, but Macardle's fluid writing style keeps one's interest until the last page. The story is about strange ghostly disturbances at "Cliff End" (in the movie, the Georgian house was re-named "Windward"). There are wonderful characters: the Fitzgeralds (Pamela and Roderick) who are siblings, Stella Merideth, the young moonstruck girl who's enchanted by the dangers which lure her into her mother's past. Commander Beech is gruff and Miss Holloway is cold and rather heartless (especially towards Stella; her supposed mother was an "intimate friend" of Holloway's). The Spanish Gypsy - Carmel Casada - whom Llewellyn used as a model for his paintings holds the key to the puzzle....Macardle uses plenty of exclaimation marks throughout the book and her writing style is a wee bit dated - but this story has an ingeniously unique twist in which readers of the ghost genre should appreciate. The Irish Ms. Macardle also wrote THE UNFORESEEN, (about a woman with "second sight") DARK ENCHANTMENT (about witchcraft in France) and a non-fiction book entitled THE IRISH REPUBLIC.

This is a solid play of a good novel, but it is unlikely that any viewer can see it without having first seen the film version with Ray Milland. The surprises and twists are all there and the dialogue works well. A solid play.

Saw the movie when I was a kid - read the book at the library, then finally bought the republished edition from Amazon. Characters are beautifully drawn, and the love story is great. A great English mystery novel.

This is a wonderful timeless story by Dorothy Macardle. I own a hard back copy of this and try to read it at least once every couple of years. There is a light and breezy feel to this book and it would be the perfect summer read if you are tired of the run-of-the-mill.

Roderick and his sister Pamela leave the hustle and bustle of modern London looking for that perfect house on the English coast. What they find is the beautiful Cliff End overlooking the sea. From their first meeting with the sweet and lovely young Stella Meredith, whose grandfather owns the house, we know there is a larger mystery here. This is a good novel that slowly unfolds as we learn of Stella's mother Mary, and the beautiful Spanish girl Carmel who was seduced by Stella's father.

Who is the appiration that appears at the top of the stairway and why does the sickening cold always precede it? Why are there moans of anguish coming from the room that used to be the nursery? What is the real mystery of Mary's death? What about that Mimosa scent that comes with the moaning? And why do things get more stirred up every time young Stella is there? Roderick has fallen for the sweet Stella just as the reader has and both must find out.

What makes this such an excellent read is that it treats this as a straightforward story of ordinary people thrown into extraordinary circumstances, slowly unfolding as Roderick and Pamela attempt to solve this maddening riddle to an otherwise wonderful house they don't want to leave.

Both the mystery and ghost story all takes place in an entertaining day-to-day life in the English countryside kind of way, with a growing romance inching its way towards the center. Go out to your garden or your patio, pour yourself a big glass of iced tea, and enjoy something truly origional. This is a great light summer read and inspired the finest film of its kind ever made in The Uninvited, starring Ray Milland the lovely Gail Russell. You don't want to miss either.

In Book One of this trilogy, Drew Silver has created a cast of characters that you won't forget, and because you care about what happens to them you won't want to leave them alone. These folks are in some serious trouble, scary stuff is going on and there's nowhere to hide. Drew definitely knows when to break the tension with some laughter and some love. I can't wait for the next book so I can learn more about my new friends (and hopefully that bad guy will get what coming to him).

All you can say after finishing this book is "WHOA!". The Vampire Within is a wicked book from cover to cover. I loved it and I can't wait to pick up the next in the trilogy! There are small stories that play throughout that are all a part of the BIG picture.I liked the wicked humor here and there and the characters really pull you into the hell they are about to be apart of. This book is not that gruesome but,Drew Silver writes in a way that make the reader use their own imagination to complete the whole picture. That can be the scariest part of all! You will not be disappointed in this vampire story. It is well written and flows nicely...kinda like the blood through your veins! One of my favorite ways to describe these characters is in the book itself: Emily say that the group was like a twisted version of the Justice League. How great is that? After reading this book, you will set a new standard for vampire books! I know I am hooked! This book will definitely be a keeper. Great story Drew!

I was stuck after 4 paragraphs, I LOVE this book. Looking forward to the ending Can't wait to see how it all turns out, I mean, you feel bad for the main characters knowing that their entire lives have changed. I was a little upset when Eric asked his brother to take the injection knowing what it would make him become and that the good Dr. might have some ulterior motives. I think the good in all of them will prevail. I can't wait for the next book. It is like watching a movie and having to pause it for months. Great Awesome read

This is the best vampire story I have read in a long time! The characters are cool, sexy, and evil and perfectly described by Drew! The story line is great and really "sucks" you in! I can't wait to read the next book in the series! I highly recommend this to all those vampire story lovers out there!

Genre: Fiction
Title: The Vampire Within: The Beginning
Author: Drew Silver
The trilogy begins.......
It is normal for us to wish to improve our health, our appearance or our intelligence. As humans, we strive to improve ourselves to meet expectations, set rightly or wrongly, by forces within our society. There are no easy fixes but every now and then, a simple fix may tempt us to try something that seems too good to be true. This is exactly what happened to a group of college students facing the peer pressure placed upon them by school and particularly, the game of football.
Dr. Cohn, a professional researcher, supported by the local college, has developed a wonder drug to improve almost any imperfection the human body may have. Students are joining his ranks, taking the injections and being paid to be subjects in the human trials. The results are both incredible and terrifying.
Author, Drew Silver begins the novel with a series of unusual events experienced by his characters. Through these events, the reader meets and gets to know the young people who are central to the story. These are intelligent students who attend an informational meeting and get caught up in a plan that spans the world and may, ultimately destroy it. Drew Silver's excellent writing style keeps the reader on the edge of his seat and wanting more. This novel is an excellent beginning of what is sure to be a very popular trilogy.
Author, Drew Silver resides in San Diego. Her experience with law enforcement, martial arts and her love of vampire stories provide a wealth of experience sure to enhance this trilogy. Watch for the 2nd and 3rd books in 2007 and 2008.
Highly Recommended Reviewer: Elaine Fuhr, Allbooks Reviews

Full disclosure: I met Jill Morrow several months ago and read her book at that time. Since then, we've become friends.
I probably never would have read the book had I not met Jill, but I'm certainly glad I met her and read the book. I loved it! She writes exceptionally well; the narrative is exciting and the characters engaging. Kat Piretti is a terrific heroine: a woman of considerable intelligence and loving heart.
Morrow's engaging prose and plotline lead the reader into what *appears* to be a conventional, but well-constructed, mystery--and then......WHAM! She deposits us where we least expect to end up: at a place where heart and mind, mystery and faith intersect. All the more thrilling for being so unexpected. I loved this book--and I'll be first in line to buy the sequel when it comes out next year!

For Secretaries' Day, lawyer Kat Valenti takes hers to lunch at south Baltimore's ANGEL CAFE, a trendy new eatery where patrons enjoy exotic fare along with psychic readings. It was Devon's choice, & Kat is skeptically eyeing both the overblown prices & decor.

The owner is a slick people-reader, offering his customers his version of "readings" -- nothing serious, just lightly flavored cliches, anyone with a brain could do, until he utters something in a voice not his own. This enrages Kat, & also so terrifies Stephen he decides he'd better hire a real psychic.

Enter Tia Melody, a loud-mouthed, chain-smoking dame with the true "sight", who is also the channel for an entity called Valentine. ANGEL CAFE's customers throng to her private sessions, money is made hand over fist, & people are changing, in particular Devon, as they align their lives with the directions given by the omnipotent Valentine.

Most of all, Kat's life is changing. Two years before, her beloved fiance, a newspaper reporter investigating the Valentine cult, died from what the police called a suicide. Kat has always thought otherwise. Now, through Stephen, & Chris, Devon's desperate husband & Tia Melody, she's finding out why he died.

Rebeccasreads recommends ANGLE CAFE as a fast paced thriller, good for an evening's read about cult seduction, the eternal battle between evil & goodness; about resistance & skepticism, enchantment & belief, prayer & responsibility.

This is a GREAT book! I have a dog-earred copy because I've read ANGEL CAFE again and again. It moved me to the point of biting my nails to the quick. You will love it. A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED first novel by an author with a great future. (I've been waiting for her next book forever.)

I love a book to transport me to another place, somewhere completely different from my normal surroundings. And I love a book that makes me wonder if the unthinkable might be thinkable after all. ANGEL CAFE does both these things, but it's also a lively, fun read.

I closed ANGEL CAFE and I kept on thinking about the characters and what had happened to them. And that, for me, is the mark of a good read. Well done, Jill Morrow!

It isn't often an author can deliver a stellar plot, well-rounded characters, and ideas that bounce around in the reader's mind long after the book has been closed. But that is just what Jill Morrow has done with Angel Cafe.

I read this book from cover to cover in one day. Morrow twists the plot so deftly that I had no idea what would happen next, though the plot unfolded seamlessly and logically. And there is even a little romance to this story to add to its appeal.

Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, you will enjoy this book. Heart-racing suspense, well-crafted characters, and the eternal struggle between good and evil, all propel this plot forward, and the ending leaves the reader aching for a sequel. (I hope it's published soon--the end notes said Morrow had already finished writing it!) I guarantee you this book will keep you thinking. And perhaps, as you close the book, you will be listening for voices... from "the other side."