Out Behind the Barn
Out Behind the Barn
Authors:
John Boden
Chad Lutzke
Published: September 27, 2018
125 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
The boys crept to the window and watched as Miss Maggie carried the long bundle into the barn, the weight of it stooping her aging back. Rafter lights spilled from the barn doors and Davey saw an arm fall from the canvas-wrapped parcel. He smiled.
“She got someone!”
Both children grinned and settled in their beds, eyes fixed to the ceiling.
This was family growth.
Kim’s Review:
Chad Lutzke is easily becoming a favorite indie horror author! This book sounded interesting, so I got it and read it. It falls into the criminal psychology category with a little paranormal stuck in. I really liked it all the way until the end. The end felt too abrupt to me. I wanted more info on Miss Maggie and her background. I also wanted to see Maggie’s reaction . . . which I can’t talk more about because I don’t want to spoil. The boys are innocent and seeing everything through their eyes gives extra emotion to the story. Not knowing what’s going on makes it all the more interesting. Overall, another good one from Chad! I can’t wait to read more of his stuff!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Eternal Youth by Alexander Williams
Eternal Youth
Author: Alexander Williams
Published: December 2, 2018
346 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Caroline Owen is in recovery after a mental breakdown. Confined to a hostel, she has to avoid the addicts and strange, oppressive characters lurking in crannies and wandering the hallways. Getting her life back on track proves difficult as more than past ghosts are coming out of the woodwork. Bad dreams torment her of girls disappearing, girls like her, taken by some ancient evil that will do anything to stay young and beautiful. Caroline begins to learn that there are worst things than ghosts lurking in the darkness of the world. A mental patient tells her that her dreams are real, that every full moon a pair of killers take a life to replenish their youth…and are careful to take the ones who will not be missed, those that are outcast and alone.
Caroline has no choice but to confront these two monsters when she intervenes with them taking another victim and inadvertently makes herself their next target and finds that her nightmares are about to become a reality.
Kim’s Review:
This. Cover. Another cover buy for me and this one was a success! It scratched my horror itch. The characters were interesting and mostly likable, except for when they weren’t supposed to be. There was also a mental hospital, and y’all know I geek out over those! My main issues are relatively simple. The number of characters got a little overwhelming. And the perspective was constantly jumping between everybody. Chapter headings or some kind of marker would have been helpful. I also would have loved more background info on Charlie and Rose. It’s hinted at, but you know I love having as much info as possible. But other than that, Williams wraps up the story well and I liked the resolution. There were many places that were creepy; seeing the darker side of humanity is always fascinating! I would absolutely recommend Eternal Youth to the horror fans out there.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Mexican Gothic
Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Published: June 30, 2020
304 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
After receiving a frantic letter from her newlywed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find – her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.
Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.
And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.
Kim’s Review:
This. Cover. It had me from the moment I first saw it. And then I found out that it’s got a haunted house and a gothic tale . . . so I read it. I was indeed creepy! I’ll admit that I had to close my closet door after I finished because I was all freaked out. I’ll admit that at the beginning, I felt a little lost because once Noemí got to the High Place, there were names and relations and people that seemed to just come out of nowhere. It got confusing, but once I pushed through, it all made sense. I was also starting to wonder how the heck everything fit together. Eugenics was just kind of thrown in randomly and I kept waiting to see where Garcia was going with it.
Like I said, by the end, everything was explained and it all made sense. I was very pleased, because y’all know I hate loose ends, but there weren’t any! I liked Noemí as a main character. She gave off the spoiled socialite vibe, but she also had good wits that she used throughout the whole story. I liked how she refused to give up on her cousin, Catalina, even though that would have been the easy thing to do.
I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give anything away. So I’ll just say that this is a great, creepy, gothic tale that will have you turning pages to see what happens! Perfect for those who like historical fiction with a horror twist!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
